In recent years, an increasing number of men suffering from hair loss have turned to FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair transplantation to reliably reverse the signs of male pattern baldness. This procedure works by individually extracting hair follicles from the most abundant areas of the scalp and implanting each one in the regions where hair is lacking. Perhaps the most valuable advantage of FUE is that it does not leave a linear scar, unlike its predecessor known as strip surgery (FUT). Therefore, follicular unit extraction has become a popular option among men who prefer to keep their hair short.
Basic FUE hair transplant results have generally produced excellent coverage and surprisingly natural results. However, when performing hair transplants for black men, specialized instruments and surgical protocols are needed due to factors such as the unique shape of their hair follicles and the hardness of the tissue surrounding these small structures.
The Limitations of Conventional FUE Hair Restoration for Black Men
Despite the enthusiasm for follicular unit extraction, the challenges of performing successful hair transplant procedures for black men are a lesser-known problem. Members of this demographic who are interested in hair loss surgery are encouraged to educate themselves about the limitations of conventional approaches.
The basic cylindrical design of classic FUE instrumentation is generally suitable for hair follicles that produce straight hair. At the same time, its capabilities become problematic when it comes to extracting curved-shaped hair follicles, as is the case in patients with afro-textured hair.
In black men and women, the curlier the hair, the more aggressive the curvature of the hair follicle. Due to their shape, these tiny structures carry an enormous risk of being damaged by the cylindrical shape of the awl of regular FUE instruments. And since damaged grafts are unable to produce new hair, this results in disappointing growth.
In addition to the curvature issue, another challenge in black patients has to do with the thickness of the scalp tissue that surrounds the hair follicles. Due to this density, surgeons have to apply follicular unit extraction tools with greater force to cut around each follicle. This impact further contributes to graft damage.
Ultimately, FUE ethnic hair transplant procedures for black men require extraction tools specially designed to overcome the obstacles of follicular shape and tissue thickness to harvest viable grafts for desirable hair growth.
The need for preliminary FUE testing
With follicular unit extraction, the success rate for patients with afro-textured hair has been estimated to be around 30-40%. Black patients who are able to achieve the desired results through FUE generally have softer scalp tissue along with hair follicles that are straighter in shape. Therefore, these individuals face less risk of graft damage.
Black patients who are interested in follicular unit extraction performed with conventional FUE tools are encouraged to undergo preliminary testing. This will help determine transection rates (ie graft damage) and your eligibility for full surgery. These tests can be considered as mini hair transplant surgeries. Small numbers of follicles are removed and inserted to help determine whether or not overall growth would be desirable after complete surgery.
Specialized FUE surgery tools for patients of African descent
Hair transplantation is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of hair loss patients, including special cases such as patients with afro-textured hair. Due to the structural challenges involved, specialized FUE instruments are now being designed to better accommodate these problems.
The PRS Global Open published a 2016 study on the new FUE technology known as Dr.UPunch Curl, which is designed to safely remove curved-shaped hair follicles in all black patients, even those with thick scalp tissue. . The study compared the results of three types of FUE extraction tools on 18 patients with very curly, afro-textured hair:
1. Conventional sharp rotary punches
2. Dull rotary punches
3. 2-point curved non-rotating punch
The non-rotating curved awl was found to perform the best of the three with a transection (graft damage) rate of less than 5%.
With specialized follicle extraction technologies like Dr.UPunchCurl, no preliminary testing is needed to perform hair transplant surgeries on people with afro-textured hair.
Instead of a conventional cylindrical punch that operates through a rotary motion, this instrumentation consists of a sharp, double-sided structure (think tweezers) that cuts through the tissue around the hair follicle (think the shape of a banana) and secure grip on two sides.
With this approach, the grafts remain intact. Once inserted into the recipient regions of hair loss, healthy, intact follicles can thrive in their new environment and produce new hair.
Signs of growth usually start to become apparent about three to four months after surgery. And continuous improvements continue to manifest for up to eighteen months.
So what is the cost of hair transplantation for black male patients to anticipate? The total cost of said procedure will vary depending on the case. People should consider factors such as the number of donor grafts needed, as well as long-term planning for future hair loss.
By choosing a specialized approach that precisely meets their needs from the outset, ethnic and special case patients can feel a strong sense of confidence from the start of their journey rather than invest in surgery that may or may not meet their expectations. in the future. end.
