What are the Potential Side Effects of Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplant Sugery?

This question, from a member of our hair loss social community and discussion forums, was answered by Coalition hair transplant surgeon Dr. Alan Feller:

What are the side effects of follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplant surgery?

The thing you are probably concerned about is the side effect of FUE that can be rightfully called FUE Donor Area Neuralgia. Also known simply as FUE Neuralgia as you almost never see it’s counterpart in follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS) surgery.

This is a condition that occurs after the donor area is harvested with a great number of FUE grafts. It’s symptoms are a persistent and deep burning sensation in parts of, or throughout, the donor scalp that is not relieved with pain tablets. This condition can last for weeks, months, or even years.

The other concerns you may have read about are:
1. Lower and inconsistent hair growth yields compared to FUSS
2. More damage to the donor area resulting in fewer harvestable grafts in the future if needed
3. Donor area shock loss which appears as a moth eaten look or patches of thinning hair.

FUE is a good procedure for smaller cases. If you need greater than 1000 grafts -now or in the future- you would be better served going with a strip procedure.

Dr. Alan Feller
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David
Editorial Assistant and Forum Co-Moderator for the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog.

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