FUE SAPPHIRE Technique (Follicular Unit Extraction)
FUE ZAFIRO Hair transplant
We use sapphire crystals to open the micro-channels as it is more precise than with the classic FUE technique.
The FUE technique for capillary grafting is an ambulatory and minimally invasive surgical procedure during which the hair follicles are extracted individually, without needing to remove a single strip of scalp (as was done in the traditional FUE technique). It is an advanced technique that minimizes scarring and postoperative care since there is no suture, and allows to treat small and medium areas. Currently, it is the most demanded technique for capillary grafting.
This system’s advantage is that it does not leave a scar in the donor area, which is important for patients who want to wear their hair very short. It also greatly reduces postoperative recovery.
The punch we use to extract the follicular units are usually between 0.6 and 0.8 mm in diameter, so that the micro-scars left after the extraction of the follicular units are subsequently invisible and disappear after a few days.
FUE: Folicular Unit Extraction
The FUE technique is characterized by how we collect the follicular units that will be transplanted. It is done by using a punch or a drilling instrument (can be manual or motorized).
How to remove the follicular units?
The extraction of follicular units is a delicate technique that must be carried out by an experienced staff.
The size of the punch that is used the most is 0.8 mm, since it has a sufficient diameter to respect the structure of the follicular units constituted by more than one hair follicle, with the advantage that the micro-scars from this diameter are then undetectable and heal very fast.
Indication for the FUE SAPPHIRE technique
The FUE technique is indicated in cases of:
- When the hair graft is meant to hide scars or marks of different origins.
- Patients who want to wear their hair very short.
- Patients with small areas to perform hair grafts.
- Treatment of expanded anterior graft scars.
- Patients who need to resume their normal activity in a few days after the hair graft.
- Patients in which the donor area is the beard or some body area, in which case the presence of linear scars by the FUE technique is not viable.
Steps of the FUE SAPPHIRE technique
Hair must be shaved on the donor area, leaving it with an approximate length of 1 or 2 mm. Shaving the donor area is essential to perform the FUE extraction. Patients who are reluctant to shave their hair need to take this into account.
The patient is placed face down on the table. In the donor area, we apply a local anaesthetic, so the patient remains awake and conscious throughout the procedure.
The follicular units are extracted from the donor area with a punch of 0.6 to 0.8 mm in diameter.
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The punch is introduced into the skin by threading the emerging hair, orienting the punch in the direction in which it is perceived that the hair follicle is settled in the dermis and hypodermis. When the punch has carved the length of the follicular unit, it is delicately extracted with the help of precision forceps.
The grafts are selected, checked and placed to be subsequently grafted. They are ordered by number of follicles that make up each follicular unit and are left to rest, bathed in a solution with physiological serum or lactated Ringer, until the transplantation. It is crucial to preserve the follicles properly for their survival in the transplant.
The extracted follicular units can carry from 1 to 5 follicles.
The opening in which the hair follicles will be grafted are made. In order to obtain the most natural result possible with a good density, several criteria must be respected:
- The implantation line
- The graft’s density
- The hair growth direction
