FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is one of the most refined techniques for restoring hair. Individual follicles are harvested one by one and re-implanted into thinning areas — with no strip of scalp removed and no linear scar. It suits both the hairline and delicate facial areas, and final results appear over roughly 12 to 18 months.
What is FUE hair transplantation?
FUE, or the extraction technique, harvests hair follicles individually without surgical incisions in the scalp and without removing a strip of skin as older strip (FUT) surgery does. Because there are no large wounds, it treats baldness without leaving permanent linear scars in the donor area.
4 key advantages of FUE
- Continually refined. FUE has evolved into several advanced variations that can be tailored to each patient’s features and cosmetic goals.
- Ideal for delicate areas. It is well suited to precise work such as designing the frontal hairline, and for transplanting eyebrows and eyelashes.
- Great for small gaps. It fills small bald patches — an uneven beard, the moustache and chin area — and can camouflage old scars.
- Minimally invasive. Less surgical trauma means less pain and bleeding, fewer side effects, and no unnecessary delay in seeing your result.
Who is a candidate for FUE?
- Men and women experiencing hair loss or baldness.
- People with stable donor follicles and a clear cosmetic goal.
- Those in good general health with no problems tolerating anaesthesia.
- Those free of thick scarring or active, contagious scalp disease.
Before an FUE hair transplant
- Your surgeon assesses your cosmetic goal, the size of the bald area, and the proportion of stable follicles.
- He selects the appropriate technique and type of anaesthesia, and plans the number of grafts and the design of the recipient area.
- Stop smoking and alcohol for at least two to three weeks, and avoid blood-thinning medication such as aspirin to reduce bleeding.
How the procedure is done
The scalp is sterilised and the hairline is drawn. The surgeon then harvests follicles individually — manually with fine forceps, or with a motorised device or the smart implanter pens. Tiny channels are opened to receive the follicles, the grafts are placed, and the scalp is covered with gauze.
After the procedure
- Wash the transplanted hair exactly as instructed, using the shampoo your doctor recommends.
- Keep any scabs moisturised with the prescribed lotion; never pick, rub or pull them.
- Itching is normal as follicles and tissue heal — antihistamines help, and resisting the urge to scratch protects the grafts.
- Some redness in the transplanted area is expected; sleep on your back to limit swelling.
- Avoid direct sun for the first weeks, cover your head outdoors, and postpone strenuous activity and sport for several weeks.
FUE results timeline
Results appear gradually over about 12 to 18 months. Transplanted hair typically sheds around the third week, new growth begins from the third month, and by the sixth month a visible, noticeably thicker result is in place. The final outcome is judged at one to one-and-a-half years — occasionally up to two.
See real FUE results at Dr. Sherif Hegazy’s clinic
Cost of FUE at Dr. Sherif Hegazy’s clinic
At the clinic in Cairo, FUE typically ranges between USD 1,000 and 2,000. The exact figure depends on the sophistication of the technique used and the number of grafts transplanted — which is why an in-person assessment gives the most accurate quote.
FUE remains one of the most effective ways to reverse genetic hair loss where other methods fail. The single most important factor in your result is choosing an experienced surgeon. Book a consultation with Dr. Sherif Hegazy to see whether FUE is right for you.
