What is a FUE Hair Transplant?
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction, also called Follicular Unit Excision) is a method of collecting hair grafts individually from the donor area, usually at the back and sides of the scalp. The grafts are then placed in areas affected by hair loss. A follicular unit is a naturally occurring group of hairs; one graft can contain more than one hair.
At ASMED in Istanbul, Manual FUE forms part of a plan that connects donor assessment, hairline design and graft placement. The aim is natural-looking coverage while considering the appearance of the remaining donor hair and the capacity that may be needed in the future.
How is FUE Hair Transplant Applied?
The process begins with an assessment of your hair loss, donor area, medical history and goals. Dr. Koray Erdoğan discusses the hairline and coverage that your donor area can support.
Local anesthesia is performed by a specialist anesthesiologist. Throughout the procedure, the anesthesiologist monitors the patient's vital signs using a wireless monitoring system. Follicular units are collected, inspected and prepared for placement. Dr. Erdoğan personally creates the recipient sites, planning their direction, angle and distribution. The grafts are then placed into these sites.
After the procedure, you receive care instructions and return the following day for a wash and check. Our guide to what we do at ASMED explains the clinic visit in more detail.
What are FUE Hair Transplant Techniques?
Manual, motorized and robotic FUE describe different ways of carrying out donor harvesting. The creation of recipient sites and the placement of grafts are separate parts of the operation. A device name alone does not explain the full surgical plan.
Manual FUE at ASMED
At ASMED, grafts are collected with a hand-operated punch. Punch size and working depth are adjusted to the hair and tissue being treated. The donor area is assessed in separate regions so that the amount and distribution of extraction can be planned together.
Read more about ASMED’s Manual FUE approach and how donor planning connects to the final appearance.
Benefits and Limitations of FUE
FUE allows individual follicular units to be selected and avoids the linear scar associated with strip harvesting. It still creates small extraction scars. Their visibility depends on healing, the extraction pattern and how short the surrounding hair is worn.
Temporary swelling and scabbing can occur. Risks such as bleeding, infection and poor graft growth should also be discussed during consultation.
The available donor hair limits the coverage that can be achieved. Planning also needs to account for existing hair that may continue to thin. Hairline design, graft selection and placement all contribute to the appearance of the result.
Who is a Good Candidate for FUE?
Suitability depends on the cause and pattern of hair loss, the condition of the donor area, medical history and realistic expectations. At ASMED, these findings are considered alongside the areas you want to restore. An assessment is needed before recommending a graft count or surgical plan.
FUE Hair Transplant Results
Transplanted hairs can shed in the weeks after surgery before new growth develops. The visible result changes over the following months, and full results may take up to 18 months. Recovery and growth vary between patients.
ASMED's patient coordinators support patients during a 12–15-month follow-up period, with clinical concerns referred to doctors.
FUE Hair Transplant Before and After Pictures
Browse ASMED's before-and-after results to see different hairlines, patterns of hair loss and treatment plans. Consider the starting point, donor characteristics and time since surgery when comparing cases.
Megasessions
A larger session may be considered when the treatment area and donor capacity support it. The number of grafts and the number of sessions are planned individually, with attention to both the restoration area and the hair remaining in the donor area.
Lateral Slits and Recipient Site Planning
Recipient sites guide the angle, direction, depth and spacing of the implanted grafts. Lateral (coronal) slits are oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of hair growth; sagittal slits are oriented parallel to it. At ASMED, Dr. Erdoğan personally creates the recipient sites as part of the plan for natural growth direction and coverage.
FUE Hair Transplant Cost
ASMED's hair transplant cost page explains the current surgical fee. Your proposed graft count and treatment plan are assessed individually. To discuss your options, complete the online consultation form with photographs and the requested background information.
