Hair Transplant
FUE Hair Transplant
FUE hair transplant is a scar-free, stitch-free method in which individual follicles are taken from the back of the head and placed into thinning areas under local anaesthesia.
- Method Individual graft extraction
- Anaesthesia Local
- Procedure time Usually 6–8 hours
- Stay in Istanbul Usually 3 nights
- Back to work Usually 3–5 days
The method
What Is FUE Hair Transplant?
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is a hair transplant method in which hair follicles are taken one by one from the donor area at the back and sides of the head and placed into thinning areas. Unlike the older strip method (FUT), there is no linear incision and no stitches; the donor area heals so that it is not noticeable even with short hair.
Grafts are extracted with micro punches of 0.7–0.9 mm, either motorised or manual. Each graft is a natural follicular unit containing one to four hairs. During placement the doctor distributes these units according to the natural direction and angle of your hair: single-hair grafts along the hairline, two- and three-hair grafts further back, so that the hair’s own pattern is reproduced.
Extracted grafts are checked under magnification, sorted by hair count and kept in a protective solution at low temperature until placement. Fine channels that follow the exit angle of your hair are opened in the recipient area, and the grafts are placed into them one by one. The channels can be opened with steel or sapphire blades; the sapphire version is described on its own page.
FUE is today the most widely used hair transplant method. High graft numbers over large areas, no visible scarring and a short recovery are the main reasons it is chosen. Beard and eyebrow transplants use the same extraction technique.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia; you leave the clinic the same day and return for a check-up the next morning. JSH does not perform treatment; it coordinates the journey planned by the doctor at licensed partner clinics in Istanbul.
Donor area
Where Do the Grafts Come from?
Hair follicles at the back of the head and above the ears are genetically resistant to DHT, the hormone behind male-pattern hair loss; this is known as the "safe donor zone". In FUE the grafts are taken from this zone and keep the same resistance in their new position.
The donor area is trimmed before the procedure. Grafts are taken spread across a wide area without damaging neighbouring follicles, so the density stays even and no bald patch appears. The extraction points close within a few days and become invisible among the hair within two weeks.
The number of grafts that can be taken in one session is limited by the donor capacity; taking more than the donor can spare would thin it out. The doctor measures this balance at the consultation and, if necessary, splits the transplant into two sessions.
In some patients the beard or chest area can be assessed as an additional donor source; this decision belongs to the doctor alone.
Assessment
Strengths and Limits of FUE
Every method has strengths and limits; the doctor chooses based on this balance and your individual situation.
Strengths
- No linear incision or stitches, so no line scar in the donor area
- High graft numbers are possible in a single session over large areas
- Short recovery; most people are back at a desk job within a few days
- The same extraction technique is used for hair, beard and eyebrow transplants
- The donor area is not noticeable even with a short haircut
Points to Consider
- Both the recipient and donor areas are trimmed before the procedure
- Because channels are opened first, grafts stay outside the body slightly longer than in DHI
- Density is limited by channel spacing and donor capacity; grafts are not unlimited
- Temporary shedding of transplanted hair (shock loss) is expected in the first months
- The result depends on the team’s experience and on following aftercare instructions
Every Graft, One by One, at Its Own Angle
Each channel opened in the recipient area follows the natural exit direction of the hair at that point. That is why the result grows as hair you can comb and part.
Suitability
Who Is It for?
FUE is considered for people with a sufficient donor area whose hair loss has largely stabilised. In younger patients whose hair loss is still progressing, the plan may be postponed, because if the hair around the transplanted area keeps thinning the natural look is lost. Doctors usually want to see the loss stable for at least a year.
The method is used not only for male-pattern loss but also for localised thinning in women, scars from accidents or surgery, and completing earlier transplants. Suitability is decided solely by the doctor after assessing donor capacity, type of loss, skin type and general health. No plan is made for a treatment that is not suitable.
Planning
How Is the Number of Grafts Decided?
The number of grafts depends on the degree of hair loss, the size of the area and the density you are aiming for. Doctors usually classify male-pattern loss on the Norwood scale, measuring the recession at the hairline and the opening at the crown separately.
How many grafts can be placed in one session depends both on donor capacity and on how many channels the recipient area can take in a day. For large areas the doctor may plan the hairline and mid-scalp first and the crown in a second session, giving priority to the area that changes your appearance most.
At the assessment you receive an estimated range based on your photos; the exact number is confirmed at the clinic after the donor area has been measured. Which grafts go where is sent to you in writing before the procedure.
The process
How Does the Procedure Work?
From your first message to your follow-up, the journey runs through a single coordinator. The procedure day has five stages.
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01
Assessment
Your photos are used to evaluate the donor area and the number of grafts needed. The plan is confirmed at the clinic with a doctor’s examination and blood tests.
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02
Hairline Design
The new hairline is drawn according to your facial features, age and pattern of loss, reviewed together with you and approved.
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03
Graft Extraction
Under local anaesthesia, grafts are extracted one by one from the donor area with micro punches, checked and sorted under magnification, and kept in a protective solution.
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04
Opening the Channels
Channels are opened in the recipient area following the natural direction and angle of your hair. Density is decided at this stage.
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05
Placing the Grafts
The grafts are placed into the channels. The procedure usually takes 6–8 hours and you leave the clinic the same day.
Where it takes place
At Partner Clinics, Planned by Your Doctor
The procedure is performed at licensed partner clinics in Istanbul by the clinic’s authorised doctor. Medical assessment, choice of method, graft numbers and the procedure itself are the doctor’s decisions; JSH does not influence them, it organises everything around them.
Our job is the rest of the journey: choosing the clinic and doctor that fit your needs, passing your assessment photos to the doctor, arranging appointments around your flights, airport and clinic transfers, accommodation and follow-up after the procedure.
We communicate in English, Turkish and Polish. Every step (schedule, length of stay, hours at the clinic, aftercare instructions) is sent to you in writing, and you stay in touch with the same coordinator after you return home.
Preparation and aftercare
What to Do Before and After the Procedure
This list is for guidance only; the written instructions your doctor gives you at the clinic take precedence. Your coordinator is available for any question.
Before the Procedure
- Stop blood thinners, aspirin and similar medication at least 7 days before the procedure, in consultation with your doctor.
- No alcohol for 3 days and no smoking for 24 hours before the procedure; both affect bleeding and healing.
- Reduce caffeine the day before; have a light breakfast on the morning of the procedure.
- Tell us about chronic conditions and regular medication during the assessment; blood tests are done at the clinic on the morning of the procedure.
- Do not start, stop or change the dose of any medication without your doctor’s approval.
- Wash your hair on the morning of the procedure; do not use gel, spray or other products.
- Wear a button-up or wide-necked top so nothing has to be pulled over your head.
After the Procedure
- Do not touch the grafted area for the first 3 days; the first wash is done at the clinic and you are shown how to do the following ones.
- Sleep on your back with your head slightly raised for the first 3–4 nights so the grafted area does not rub against the pillow.
- Keep the grafted area dry and clean for 10 days; avoid pools, the sea, saunas, sunbeds and direct sun.
- No heavy exercise or anything that makes you sweat for the first 2 weeks; no gel, spray or hair dye for 1–2 months.
- Do not pick the scabs; wash exactly as shown and take the medication you were given regularly.
- Keep your follow-up appointments and message your coordinator straight away if you notice unusual pain, redness or discharge.
- Wait for your doctor’s go-ahead before wearing a hat or cap, and choose a loose one in the first days.
Recovery
Recovery After the Procedure
Timings are given for guidance only; recovery varies from person to person and is followed up by your doctor.
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First 3 Days
Redness and small dot-like scabs appear in the grafted area. The first wash is done at the clinic; dressings and medication continue as instructed and the area is not touched.
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1–2 Weeks
The scabs fall off and the donor area has largely healed. Mild swelling on the forehead may last a few days; most people return to desk work in this period.
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2–8 Weeks
Some of the transplanted hair shafts may shed temporarily. This is called shock loss and is expected; the roots stay in place.
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3–6 Months
New hair begins to grow. The first hairs may be fine and wavy; density increases gradually.
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6–9 Months
The hair thickens and lengthens, and the grafted area blends with the surrounding hair. Cutting and styling are comfortable at this stage.
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12 Months
Recovery is largely complete; in some people thickening continues up to eighteen months. Results vary from person to person.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About FUE
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. Apart from a few minutes of sensitivity while the anaesthetic is applied, no pain is expected during the procedure. Afterwards, the painkillers your doctor recommends are usually enough.
Usually 6–8 hours depending on the number of grafts: roughly two to three hours of extraction and two to three and a half hours of placement, with breaks and a meal in between. You leave the clinic the same day and return for a check-up the next morning.
In FUT a strip of skin is removed from the back of the head and stitched, leaving a line scar. In FUE grafts are taken individually, so there is no incision or stitching; the marks are tiny dots rather than a line and are invisible among the hair.
Grafts are extracted individually in both. In FUE the channels are opened first and the grafts placed afterwards; in DHI an implanter pen opens the channel and places the graft in one step. FUE is usually preferred for large areas, DHI for the hairline and for adding density; the doctor decides.
No strip is removed, so there is no linear scar. The extraction points heal and become invisible among the surrounding hair, even when it is cut short.
Desk work usually after 3–5 days. Physically demanding jobs and sport need about two weeks, on your doctor’s advice.
It depends on the degree of loss and the area: usually 1,000–2,000 grafts for the hairline alone, 2,000–3,500 for the hairline and mid-scalp, and more for extensive loss. The exact number is decided at the consultation after the donor area has been measured.
Usually three nights: consultation and the procedure on day one, a check-up and dressing change on day two, the first wash and aftercare training on day three. The schedule is built around your flights, and accommodation can be extended if you prefer to stay longer.
The grafts come from the back of the head, an area genetically resistant to hair loss, so they are expected to be permanent. Hair shafts may shed temporarily in the first weeks; the roots stay in place and grow new hair. Existing hair outside the transplanted area may continue to thin, which your doctor takes into account when planning.
New hair usually starts to grow from the third month, becomes noticeable after the sixth month and reaches most of its final form at twelve months. In some people thickening continues up to eighteen months. Results vary from person to person and are followed up by your doctor.
Let’s Assess Your Suitability Together
Share your questions and, if you have them, your photos. Our team will complete a preliminary assessment with the partner clinic’s doctor and get back to you.