Surgical Hair Restoration
Surgical Hair Restoration Program
Orange County Hair Restoration and Dr. Williams are considered one of the most experienced hair restoration surgical physicians and facilities performing FUE. Our office uses the most advance and most recognized FUE devices- Cole, WAW, Mamba, and ARTAS. These incredible FUE devices are the product of extensive of research and development providing a minimally invasive procedure, and natural aesthetically appealing hairline.
FUE is considered the Cadillac of hair restoration surgery and 80 % of our patients request this donor harvesting technique. In 2009, Dr. Williams was the first and most recognized dedicated FUE hair restoration facility in the western United States. Dr. Williams is a world wide teacher and instructor of hair surgery and speaks all around the world on hair restoration at international workshops and post graduate programs.
Two Methods Of Harvesting Hair Follicles – FUT vs. FUE
Currently there are two primary surgical techniques or methods used in performing hair transplantation- FUT (STRIP) and FUE. With the FUT technique, a section of scalp is excised with a scalpel. The scalp is brought together with either sutures or staples leaving the possibility of a donor linear scar in the back of the scalp. Next, the hair follicles or hair grafts are inserted into tiny slits placed by the surgeon in the balding recipient area. The follicles with a single hair are placed in the front rows to define and create a natural hairline. The more dense natural occurring folllicular units are placed by hand in areas where hair density is needed the most.
With automated FUE a minimal depth scoring punch device is used to loosen the follicle from the surrounding tissues. The small naturally occurring hair follicle units are then removed directly from the donor area. With the FUE procedure, a 0.8 or 1.0 mm punch minimal depth scoring excision is used in the skin around the upper part of the follicular unit (hair follicles). The hair follicle is then extracted directly from the scalp and manually placed into tiny slits in the balding area similar to the FUT method.
Traditional FUT (STRIP) Method Before & After
Intra operative FUT Incision
FUE Before & After Photos
Quicker Recovery, More Grafts, and No linear Scars with Automated FUE
Compared to manual FUE, motorized FUE devices allows more follicles to be harvested in a single surgical session. With the 21st technology devices such as the WAW, Mamba, Cole, ARTAS, and Safe systems. Currently, the FUE harvesting portion of the surgical procedure allows patients to have a greater number of hair follicles transplanted into their scalp in a single surgical session. Dr. Williams routinely harvest 2500-3000 grafts in a single day session. Compared to the linear STRIP harvesting excision technique, FUE does not leave a linear donor scar when the hair is worn short. Disclaimer: With FUE harvesting, if the hair is worn short, there is a possibility of small multiple areas of the donor site with areas hypopigmentation seen in certain skin and ethnic skin types.
Magnification view of hypopigmentation from FUE technique
Small round areas of hypopigmentation from FUE observed when hair is cut short
No Surgical Cutting Of Scalp
Automated FUE with the Cole, NeoGraft, or Safe System are the most recently developed FUE hair transplant devices that does not involve excising a large portion of the scalp or linear incision in the scalp. Thus no sutures, staples, or scalpel are required. Postoperative bleeding is not present and almost immediate surgical recovery is realized. Patients are able to resume light physical activity the next day with minimal restrictions. Athletes or physically active patients may resume their normal strenuous workouts in about one week after the procedure.
Up To 3000 Grafts Per Day
Hair restoration surgery with automated FUE removes individual hair follicles from the scalp in their naturally occurring groupings of 1-4 hairs. At OC Hair Restoration we are able to typically harvest or surgically remove and implant 2000 hair follicles in one surgical setting using 0.8 mm or 1.0 mm punches. The typical length of the surgical session varies from patient-to-patient. In some cases because of various patient factors, cases will end as quickly as nine (9) hours, but in some patients a twelve(12) hour session is required.
Quality of FUE grafts harvested by Dr. Williams at OC Hair Restoration
FUE verses FUT (Strip) Technique
| FUE Technique | FUT STRIP Technique | |
|---|---|---|
| Use of Scalpel, Sutures, or Staples | No | Yes |
| Surgical Operating Time-2000 Grafts | 10-12 Hours | 5-8 hours |
| Invasiveness of Procedure | + | +++ |
| Typical Hair Length Preference | Short | Medium |
| Short Hair Required Prior to Procedure | Yes | No |
| Donor Site Linear Scar | No | Yes |
| Maximum Follicles Harvested Per Session | 2000 | 2000-2500 |
| Typical Healing Time of Donor Site | 3-4 days | 10-14 days |
| Local Tumescent Anesthesia / Oral Sedation | Yes | Yes |
| Postoperative Tight Scalp Sensation | No | Yes |
| Risk of Bleeding & Nerve Damage | No | Low |
| Donor Hypopigmentation | Yes | No |
| Risk of Donor Site infection | Very Low | Low |