FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION
FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION
HOW FUE WORKS
Follicular Unit Extraction, or FUE, is a hair transplant method that removes individual follicular units from the donor area rather than removing a strip of tissue. The grafts are then prepared and carefully placed into the areas being restored.
Individual Graft Extraction
Follicular units are carefully removed one at a time from the donor area, typically at the back and sides of the scalp.
Graft Preparation
The extracted grafts are examined and kept hydrated while they are prepared for transplantation.
Placement & Hairline Design
The grafts are placed into carefully planned recipient sites based on the desired hairline, density, and natural direction of growth.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FUE
With standard FUE, individual follicular units are harvested from the donor area rather than removing a strip of scalp. The donor area is typically trimmed or shaved to give the surgical team clear visibility and access to the follicles being extracted. Jernigan’s internal transplant material also describes harvesting from the more stable donor “safe zone” at the back and sides of the scalp.
No Linear Incision
Because FUE does not require removal of a strip of donor tissue, there is no linear donor incision. Instead, extraction leaves many small individual healing points.
Small, Individual Extraction Sites
Each follicular unit is removed through a small circular opening. These sites heal individually rather than being closed with stitches. FUE avoids a linear scar, but it is not scarless and can leave very small dot-like scars in the donor area.
Careful Donor Management Matters
The donor area contains a limited supply of transplantable hair, so planning where and how follicles are harvested is an important part of creating a balanced result now and preserving options for the future.
The Donor Area Is Typically Shaved
With standard FUE, the donor area is usually trimmed or shaved so the surgical team can clearly see and access the follicles being extracted.
Prefer to avoid a fully shaved donor area?
For select procedures, our No-Shave FUE option may allow the existing hairstyle to provide more coverage of the donor area.
THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND OUR FUE
FUE requires careful control as each follicular unit is separated from the surrounding tissue. We use the Devroye WAW system because it gives our surgical team greater control over the extraction process while using instrumentation designed to protect the graft as it is released from the scalp.
The WAW system allows extraction speed, rotation, oscillation, and movement to be adjusted based on the characteristics of the donor area and individual grafts.
The WAW punch is designed to work around the follicular unit while helping reduce unnecessary trauma during extraction and support careful graft handling.
The WAW system does not rely on vacuum-assisted graft removal, allowing our team to maintain direct control as each follicular unit is released, removed, and handled.
The technology is a tool — the experience of the team using it still matters.
The WAW system gives us control and flexibility during extraction while our team makes the decisions about punch selection, angle, depth, and graft handling.
EVOLVING OUR FUE APPROACH
NeoGraft uses pneumatic, suction-assisted technology to help extract and transport grafts. The WAW system takes a different approach, allowing our team to directly control and customize the punch movement during extraction.
Rather than relying on suction-assisted graft extraction, the WAW system allows our team to maintain direct control as each follicular unit is released and removed.
Rotation, oscillation, speed, and movement can be adjusted during the procedure, giving us flexibility when working with different hair and scalp characteristics.
We prefer an extraction process that allows our team to closely control each step—from punch placement through graft removal and preparation.
NeoGraft is still used for FUE in some hair restoration practices. Our transition reflects the extraction approach and level of operator control we prefer at Jernigan’s—not a change from FUE itself.