FUT And FUE Hair Transplant Treatment In Singapore
Hair loss is a medical condition that can affect your scalp or other parts of the body, and it can be temporary or permanent. Alopecia, or hair loss is a complex phenomenon that is not fully understood by doctors. However, we know that certain factors such as hereditary, medical conditions, hormonal changes, certain medications, and intrinsic ageing may cause your hair to fall. For individuals experiencing thinning hair or male or female pattern hair loss, hair transplant in Singapore remains a highly effective treatment for restoring one’s crowning glory. So, what exactly is a hair transplant and what is the process?
Below, we cover the two main kinds of hair transplants and their differences.
1. Types of hair transplant treatment
There are two main methods of hair transplant: Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Both are effective hair restoration techniques with high success rates. So, what are they and how are they different?
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)
FUT involves removing a strip of scalp tissue containing healthy hair follicles from the back of the head.
The strip is then divided into individual follicular units, each containing one to four hair follicles. These units are transplanted into the recipient areas, where hair loss has occurred, to promote natural-looking hair growth.
The success of FUT depends largely on how healthy the scalp skin is and how many hairs there are per square centimetre of the donor scalp. In general, FUT procedure potentially has more hair yield during a lifetime compared to FUE. FUT is often recommended for individuals suffering from extensive hair loss, as it allows more hair follicles to be transplanted in one session.
When the strip is removed from the donor site, it is placed under a microscope so that the surgical team will meticulously divide into tiny grafts of individual follicular units that should contain between 1 and 4 hairs. The donor area is then stitched up and usually covered by surrounding hair so that the scar is not obvious. After 1-2 weeks, the stitches are removed and the donor area heals to form a small scar. The downside to this treatment is the unsightly scar at the back of the patient’s head that will take some time to heal, longer downtime, and higher risk of complications.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE hair transplant surgery involves harvesting the hairs from the areas (usually the back and side of the head) and inserting these hair follicles one by one into balding areas. There will be a series of tiny dots on the scalp. After 1-2 weeks when the scars recover, they will be barely noticeable. Over a few sessions of FUE procedures, the donor area may gradually thin out.
Hence, there is a limited amount of donor hair that doctors can harvest. This means that the doctor needs to ensure that there is sufficient supply for repeat procedures, if necessary.
While FUE may take significantly longer time to complete as compared to FUT, it is less invasive and does not leave scars on harvested areas, and results in faster healing.
2. Who Is A Candidate For Hair Transplant Surgery?
- Patients with well-defined male or female pattern baldness, who wish to have a more attractive hair line, or increased hair density.
- Patients with hair loss from scarring or scalp injuries
- Individuals who wish to enhance facial hair such as thicker eyebrows, more defined sideburns, beard or moustache
An ideal candidate for hair restoration surgery should also have healthy hair to “donate”.
Since male or female pattern baldness usually affects the hairline and crown, we usually harvest the most sturdy hair follicles, which are found on the back and sides of the head. These follicles are genetically programmed to grow for life. When transplanted to the balding area, they have the ability to take root and grow normally in the recipient site. This phenomenon is known as donor dominance.
Other potential donor sites are beard, or body hair such as chest hair. Only your own hair can only be transplanted. You cannot “donate” hair to someone else due to graft rejection.
3. How does hair transplant work?
4. Number of grafts needed for hair transplant treatment
It depends on several factors such as the severity of your hair loss, the density of the donor area and your current scalp condition. In general, up to 4,000 hair grafts may be transplanted during one procedure. The more advanced the hair loss, the more grafts you may require to fill the balding areas.
5. What Can I Expect After Getting Hair Transplant Surgery In Singapore?
Hair transplantation is a surgical technique designed to restore hair in bald areas by relocating healthy hair follicles from a donor area or donor site to the recipient site. There are two main techniques: Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), which involves harvesting a strip of scalp to obtain multiple follicular units, and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), where individual hair follicles are harvested for hair restoration. The choice of technique depends on the patient’s types of hair loss, such as male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia, and the number of follicular units required.
After a hair transplant procedure, patients may gently wash their individual hair with baby shampoo as early as the next day. Most can return to work within a few days, though strenuous exercise should be avoided for about a week to minimize side effects and promote healing.
During the first month, the transplanted hair shafts may shed, but the hair follicles remain intact in the recipient site. New hair growth typically begins around three months, progressing at a normal rate. By six months, the transplanted hair develops a natural appearance and continues to grow permanently alongside existing hair.
While no special long-term care is required, doctors may recommend continuing medications such as minoxidil or finasteride to support existing hair and prevent further loss. For patients with advanced types of hair loss, more than one session may be necessary to achieve optimal results.
Finally, hair transplant costs vary depending on the technique used, the number of grafts, and the complexity of the procedure, but it remains the only method that effectively restores areas where hair follicles are permanently lost.
6. Benefits of FUT and FUE hair transplant treatment
Benefits of FUT
FUT is often recommended for patients who need a larger number of grafts, as it typically provides a higher yield compared to FUE. While the technique may result in a linear scar at the back of the head, this usually heals well and can be easily concealed by the surrounding hair. Depending on the complexity of the case, the FUT procedure generally takes between 4 and 12 hours to complete. Because it requires less time and effort, FUT is usually more cost-effective than the FUE method.
Benefits of FUE
One of the key differences between FUE and FUT is that FUE is a minimally invasive procedure that does not leave a linear scar on the scalp. Instead, individual follicular units are harvested, resulting only in tiny dot-like scars that are barely noticeable once healed. Because of this, FUE is especially suitable for men and women who prefer to keep their hair short. It is often recommended for patients with a less severe form of hair loss who require a relatively smaller number of grafts.
7. Side effects of hair transplant treatment
8. Cost of hair transplant in Singapore
The cost of hair transplant procedures in Singapore can vary as it depends on the doctor’s experience, type of treatment, and number of grafts required. In general, you can expect to fork out S$6,000 to $13,000 or more for a procedure. The main factors that determine the cost of hair transplant are:
Doctors often quote the price of the treatment based on the number of grafts required. The price range per graft is about S$3.50 to $7. On the average, you can expect to pay about $5 per graft. In addition, there are also other charges that relate to the procedure. Post-treatment medication can range from S$50 to S$300.
9. Non-surgical hair loss treatment in Singapore
A surgical hair transplant can be expensive with long downtime. In addition, for hair transplant to be successful, you need to have enough hair in the first place to harvest from the donor site to the recipient area. For people who may not be too keen to shell out large amounts of money and to tolerate the long downtime of surgical treatments, they can turn to non-surgical hair loss treatments.
Regenera Activa
Regenera Activa aims to provide an intensive, targeted scalp treatment to promote stronger, thicker hair growth. It is specially designed to regenerate and kickstart hair growth process using autologous micrograft. Simply speaking, this treatment uses your own body’s ability to use functioning hair follicles to stimulate the growth of hair follicles in inactive areas of the scalp. It is an FDA-approved, CE-marked and HSA-approved device for the purpose of stimulating healthy hair growth. You can expect some bruising and bleeding after the treatment but these should resolve within a day.
PDRN Scalp Therapy
PDRN Scalp Therapy aims to provide a targeted treatment to repair and rejuvenate the scalp from the inside. Unlike other scalp treatments that provide symptomatic relief, PDRN Scalp Therapy strengthens the scalp and provides a healthier, stronger foundation for thicker hair growth.
This hair loss treatment has almost no downtime and you can return to work or go about your daily activities after the procedure.
LASEMD hair regrowth laser
A laser technology that hails from South Korea, LASEMD uses a cosmeceutical delivery system (CDS) to administer hair growth compounds deep into the scalp to increase the absorption rate of the serum. In addition, the Thulium laser energy stimulates the hair follicles and encourages blood flow to produce stronger, thicker hair. There is minimal downtime associated with this procedure and you may resume your daily activities after the treatment.
Revitalise Your Hair With Hair Loss Treatments In Singapore
If you’re looking to address your hair concerns effectively, Radium Aesthetics offers minimally-invasive aesthetic treatments that promote healthy hair regrowth.
With a team of expert aestheticians and a focus on advanced technologies such as Regenera Activa, PDRN Scalp Therapy, and LASEMD Hair Regrowth Laser, we provide a comprehensive approach to hair restoration.
Schedule a consultation today to learn more about our non-surgical options and begin your journey towards healthier hair.
Frequently asked questions about hair transplant in Singapore
Is hair transplant permanent?
Am I a suitable candidate for hair transplant treatment?
Is hair transplant treatment painful?
What should I do after hair transplant treatment?
How long is the downtime of hair transplant treatment?
When can I exercise after hair transplant?
Can Hair Transplant Solve Male Pattern Hair Loss?
Yes, hair transplants can effectively work on male pattern hair loss. Both Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) techniques are specifically designed to address hair loss in men and help restore a natural-looking hairline and fuller hair coverage.
