You’ve heard about the excellent results many people have achieved through hair transplants but a small question still nags at your mind and holds you back- ‘Are these procedures safe?’ Having some concern and apprehension before any surgical treatment is the most natural thing in the world. However, to allay any fears let’s take some time to have a realistic look at the benefits and costs of the two most common methods of hair transplantation- follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).
Many patients are intrigued by FUE because it offers dramatic hair restoration benefits with minimal scarring along the scalp. Sometimes, however, the Modena Hair Institute receives inquiries from interested, but naturally apprehensive, individuals about FUE’s potential risks.
Understanding is always the best antidote to fear. Therefore, let’s go over the basics of the FUE procedure to better understand its general safety. Any surgical procedure will always carry some risk but, realistically speaking, proper and careful pre-planning combined with the tried and true expertise of our medical professionals ensures that any risk will be negligible.
The actual Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure works like this: individual hair follicles are removed from a donor area of the scalp and are transplanted to the area in need. No stitches or sutures are required for this minimally invasive procedure. Donor follicles are carefully repositioned along the hairline and the crown of the scalp for the best restorative and aesthetic effect.
It is important to understand how FUE differs from FUT. Since FUE focuses on transplanting individual hair follicles there is no need to harvest a strip from the donor area of the scalp, and hence no major scarring. Patients who undergo FUE typically enjoy a swifter recovery than patients who undergo FUT. The FUE procedure also involves less physical discomfort. The price of FUE treatment is generally more expensive than that of FUT.
FUE carries with it certain small risks. It is possible for the donor follicles to become damaged during the transplant and there is also a small risk that the procedure may result in an uneven distribution of donor follicles across the area of treatment. However, such risks are highly unlikely when working with a skillful and experienced transplant surgeon like Dr. Amir Yazdan.
During your visit to Modena Hair Institute, we can go over these matters with you personally. By understanding your specific treatment needs we will be certain to provide you with the highest standard of safe and effective care.
Generally FUE is a very safe and reliable option for those seeking hair restoration therapy. Our personalized process of screening and consultation ensures that FUE is only performed on those patients for whom our professions deem it to be the best course of treatment. We carefully evaluate several factors in potential candidates for FUE. For example, is the scalp skin loose and healthy? Is there sufficient donor hair available? And can viable follicular units be extracted from without doing serious tissue or nerve damage in the process? As always our professionals are happy to discuss any concerns or individual needs which you may have.
FUE yields very dramatic results; a full and natural-looking head of hair and a significantly more youthful appearance. Often, our patients also report an increased sense of well-being and confidence. Being a minimally invasive procedure you can expect the scarring around the donor area of the scalp to heal well with no visible trace of the hair restoration procedure remaining.
So, is FUE right for you?
The best way to find out if FUE is right for you is to visit our practice for a personalized consultation. We’ll be delighted to answer any and all of your questions in detail and to address any specific safety or health related concerns that you may have. In case FUE isn’t the right course of treatment for you, we can discuss FUT and why that procedure may be better and safer given your specific needs.
To learn more about FUE and your many other options for restoring your hair, be sure to contact our skilled hair restoration specialists. Your best head of hair is waiting and our specialists are eagerly awaiting your call or email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.