Hair Restoration Using Facial Hair : Harvesting Facial Hair for Transplantation
FHT is based on follicular unit extraction invented by Dr. Masumi Inaba, a Japanese dermatologist, in the 1980s. This surgery includes harvesting hair from the back of the head. Surgeons remove follicular units one unit at a time. The grafts are then replaced in areas of hair loss. Follicular units are groups of one to four hairs, which also consist of nerves, a small muscle, sebaceous glands and occasionally fine vellus hair.
FUE is minimally invasive transplantation with superior results dependent on sufficient donor head hair. For severely bald patients, the traditional form of the technique is not an option. Using donor hair from the face and body in lieu of head hair, however, became a potential solution in the 1990s. Dr. Hirai et al performed the first recorded FUE surgery using non-head hair in 2001.
This advanced transplantation requires more skill and precision than other FUE methods since body and head hair vary greatly. Facial hair tends to be the highest caliber of body hair, with beard hair typically providing the greatest yield regarding long-term graft survival.
What to Expect from FHT
- FHT patients can expect a similar process to other variants of extraction of follicular units
- Minimally invasive transplantation surgery
- Facial hair extraction, one follicular unit at a time
- Use of a handheld punching tool (either manual or motorized) and a needle device
- Optimal new hair growth at nine months (may improve up to two years)
