The newest most advanced method of hair transplantation is called the NeoGraft Automated FUE and Implantation System. Now, with the NeoGraft Hair Transplant medical device, the difficulties associated with a manual FUE procedure have been minimized or eliminated. An FUE hair transplant with NeoGraft can be done in the same amount of time as a traditional “strip” hair transplant, reducing the cost of a long manual FUE transplant. In addition to reducing the time required for the hair transplant, NeoGraft uses pneumatic pressure to extract the follicles and precisely implant them as well, as an option. This eliminates the need for touching the follicles with forceps during harvesting.
Neograft Procedure Costs Begin at $3000
From a surgical standpoint, the “strip” method or FUT is a surgically invasive procedure. With the “strip” method the hair at the back of scalp is cut short. That section of scalp is surgically excised. The wound created by the incision is then stitched up or stapled together. Next, the excised portion of the scalp is divided up and placed under several microscopes where technicians using sharp blades separate grafts into units of one to four hairs. While the team of technicians are separating the grafts, the physician creates the hairline and recipient sites using a needle or a specific blade. Once the recipient sites are created, the grafts are then placed into the sites using forceps. The grafts with a single hair are placed in the front, to give a natural hairline. The rest are placed behind to give the recipient area density.
As a widely performed surgical procedure, an FUE hair transplant is a very safe, relatively minor procedure. Some have named it “minimally invasive”, but we consider no procedure minimally invasive. We believe that such terminology shall not convey the impression that a procedure is devoid of side-effects or complications, so we take every precaution to ensure that you will have a safe procedure and the best possible outcome. We do believe that every surgery deserves the highest peri-operative standards with careful and meticulous planning.
With the FUE method there is no need to excise a piece of the scalp because the follicles are removed directly from the donor area using a tiny 0.8 to 1.0 mm punch (punch sizes vary depending on the case) and forceps. The punch is manually rotated to make a small circular incision in the skin around the follicular unit (hair follicles), which is then removed directly from the scalp using forceps. After the appropriate number of units has been removed, technicians separate the grafts into units of one to four hairs and these grafts are implanted much the same way as the “strip” method. With the FUE method there is little bleeding and fewer complications than with the “strip” method. The procedure is performed with local anesthetic and neither intravenous nor intra-muscular sedation is required.
The benefits of the FUE method to the patient are that there is minimal discomfort, no scalpel incision, no sutures, no linear scar, little to no risk of complications, quick recovery time, fewer activity limitations and a more natural looking result than traditional strip methods and the patients can wear their hair short if they choose to without an unsightly visible linear scar. Of notice, regardless on the technique employed, studies have show that up to five percent of these linear scars will widen overtime.
An FUE hair transplant may be the most beneficial for the patient. There are some specific nuisances associated with an FUE hair transplant. First, doing FUE manually is very tedious and time consuming, making the procedure too costly for most patients. Next, it is difficult to learn the FUE procedure and there is a risk for a high transection (damage) rate of the follicles, although such transection is usually not a permanent damage to the hair follicle, or inconsequential.
The NeoGraft technology allows the patient to receive the benefits of the FUE procedure and the physician benefits from the advancements of the technique made easier and with efficient repeatable results. With NeoGraft, most patients can be candidates for an FUE hair transplant. Given the choice most hair restoration patients would prefer the less minimally invasive procedure over having the more invasive “strip” surgery. Even though many patients are good candidates for a NeoGraft FUE hair transplant, if they are not seen by a doctor that specializes in FUE or with the NeoGraft automated FUE device, they may not be given advice which is in their best interest.
Hair transplant procedures encompass both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Final hairline design results still are dependent upon the skill and artistic abilities of the surgeon performing the procedure. These artistic skills and abilities can often be attained by a qualified surgeon. The NeoGraft Automated FUE is also a useful procedure to fix visible linear scars from previous “strip” surgeries. FUE can be used to ‘fill in’ or camouflage those old scars by transplanting new follicles into the area.
