FUE Combined with Daily Medication to Prevent Hair Loss
Hair loss is common. By the time men and women reach the age of 50, about half will suffer from some degree of hair loss, often due to genetics.
At the Chicago Hair Institute, we offer FUE, or follicular unit extraction to restore healthy hair growth using your own hair follicles. FUE combined with daily medication to prevent hair loss may be all you need to restore hair growth and prevent further hair loss. Contact our Chicago, IL practice to learn more.
Should I Take Daily Hair Loss Medications after FUE?
We may prescribe minoxidil (Rogaine) or finasteride (Propecia) to encourage hair regrowth after your FUE procedure and prevent additional hair loss. We will discuss the use of daily medications, and the role they may play in your FUE aftercare treatment plan, during your initial consultation at our practice.
How Does FUE Work?
FUE is the process of obtaining one or more hair follicles and transplanting them in a different location.
To begin, we will cut the patient’s hair short enough to view the scalp. The doctor can then accurately find the growing angle of each follicular unit.
Then, hairs are removed from the scalp (typically from the back of the scalp away from the face) with a cylinder-shaped tool. Since each individual hair follicle must be harvested, it takes time before enough follicles are gathered.
The doctor then transplants the follicles back into the scalp in the area of hair loss, and if successful, hair follicles will grow as normal in their new location.
Who Is a Good Candidate for FUE?
Dr. Konior and Dr. Nadimi can determine if you are a good candidate for FUE, based on your particular type of hair loss, your lifestyle, health, and expectations.
Generally, FUE is a good treatment option for patients who:
- Have realistic expectations: Full results from FUE may take up to a year to fully show, and may not fully eradicate baldness after the first treatment.
- Are over the age of 30: At this age, hair loss patterns are typically already established, allowing the doctor to transplant hair in a natural-looking and sustainable way.
- Have baldness due to alopecia or damage to hair follicles: This may occur as the result of an accident, trauma, or surgical scars.
- Have enough donor hair left for the procedure: Advanced stages of baldness may exclude certain patients who cannot support the amount of hair follicles needed for transplant.
Advantages of FUE Treatment
FUE was developed to reduce the amount of scarring that typically comes with traditional strip harvesting. With FUE, small, round scars are much easier to conceal under hair growth than traditional lateral scars associated with strip harvesting.
In addition, FUE offers:
- Minimal pain during recovery: Often, patients do not require any pain medication after FUE, and may need just over-the-counter pain relievers during the first couple days after the procedure.
- Faster recovery: The harvesting method for FUE takes just a few days to heal. No sutures or stitches are needed to close any wounds, and so the incisions heal much quicker than traditional follicle harvesting methods.
- An aesthetic result: Advanced treatment methods allow us to provide natural-looking results and thicker hair with a genuine hair line. Patients will not receive the “plug” appearance often associated with older methods of hair restoration.
Looking for Hair Restoration?
If you are suffering from a loss of confidence due to hair loss, schedule a consultation at our practice. Dr. Konior and Dr. Nadimi can determine if FUE or another hair restoration technique is right for you. Call our office at (630) 932-9690.
