Hair restoration surgery is a medical procedure where hair is taken from areas of the scalp with thicker, stronger hair and then placed in areas of the scalp with thinning or balding. There are advantages and disadvantages of hair restoration surgery, like any other procedure or treatment option, so it is important to see a hair restoration surgeon to discuss the benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Our surgeons at Root Hair Institute are known to be the experts for hair restoration surgery in Greater Seattle. They help patients gain their hair and confidence back by creating the best possible plan to help them achieve their goals.
The surgeons at Root Hair Institute have unmatched expertise, training, and dedication to patient care.
Both Dr. Natalie Kash and Dr. Rahil B. Roopani are fellowship-trained hair restoration surgeons who have experience treating all types of hair. This skill and level of training is only matched by a select group of surgeons world-wide who are trained in both FUE and FUT techniques and have the confidence to address any type of hair loss.
In order to provide all patients the best opportunity of restoring their hair, the surgeons at Root Hair Institute are one of the few hair restoration centers proud to offer both Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Excision/Extraction (FUE).
The development of Follicular Unit Excision/Extraction (FUE) was an exciting innovation for the hair restoration field. Many thought FUE would replace FUT, given that it was newer and less invasive.
However, there has been increasing evidence and understanding of the appropriate uses of both FUT and FUE in different clinical scenarios as each offers unique advantages depending on your hair loss and ultimate hair restoration goals.
Furthermore, FUT is sometimes considered a lost art within the realm of hair restoration as it is not as widely available as FUE due to the fact that there is greater skill and technique required to offer FUT to patients. Fortunately, Dr. Natalie Kash and Dr. Rahil B. Roopani are experts in both FUT as well as FUE allowing them to truly offer the best hair restoration option to fit the individual goals and needs of their patients.
Whether it’s FUT or FUE, both procedures are done intricately and with attention to detail in order to achieve the optimal results. Both surgeries consist of 5 phases:
At Root Hair Institute, we offer different types of approaches to hair restoration including medications, red light therapy, injections, and surgery. These therapies can also work well together. If you are primarily interested in learning about hair restoration surgery, we recommend scheduling a hair restoration surgery consult that will primarily focus on educating you on surgery and determining if you are an appropriate surgical candidate. If you are primarily interested in non-surgical therapies, we recommend scheduling a medical hair restoration consult to discuss all of your treatment options. Our doctors are experts in these treatments and provide patients with specialized, multi-faceted approaches that are adapted to each patient’s needs and goals.
Follicular unit transplant (FUT), also known as “strip harvesting”, is one of two standard surgical methods to remove hair follicles typically from the back and sides of the head (occipital and parietal scalp) to place them in recipient areas with low hair density.
In the first phase, the surgeon will identify the most optimal hairs in the aforementioned regions of the scalp and estimate how many grafts can be safely removed.
After that, this area will be numbed using local anesthetics.
The strip of the scalp is then safely removed, followed by one or two layers of sutures (stitches) that will bring together the incision marks in a manner that typically leaves a thin linear scar. The overlying hairs above the incision helps hide the presence of the scar. Ideally, hair should be kept at least 1.5 cm or greater in length to allow optimal concealment of the incision and resultant scar.
The patient will then return in 14-21 days to remove the sutures once the area has healed.
Second phase: microdissection; the medical team will then take the strip of tissue and dissect it into hundreds to thousands of 1 to 4-haired follicular grafts.
And here’s how the remaining phases will be performed (these phases are the same for both FUT and FUE procedures):
Once the hair grafts are transplanted, the patient will receive post-op instructions (fifth phase) and appropriate medications to relieve any short-term pain which usually resolves by the next day.
During the first seven days after the procedure, we caution the patient to modify their daily routine to improve post-operative healing such as modified showers, being conscious of anything touching their scalp (recipient area), no exercise, etc.
Patients, in most cases, are allowed to return to normal daily activities and exercise 7-14 days after the procedure. Your surgeon will discuss your specific post-operative instructions based on your case.
Follicular unit excision/extraction (FUE) has become very popular and essential in its role within hair transplant surgery, especially for those individuals desiring flexibility to wear their hair in shorter hairstyles on the sides and back and those who desire a less invasive option.
At Root Hair Institute (RHI), our hair restoration surgeons operate using an advanced, motorized handheld punch device to harvest optimal hair follicles from the donor region (usually back and sides of the scalp) that are then transplanted in the recipient (balding or thinning) areas.
The FUE harvesting process allows the surgeon to selectively identify and harvest grafts with the specific characteristics needed to achieve the desired result.
Furthermore, the hair restoration surgeons at Root Hair Institute take great care to never “overharvest” from any one particular donor region so that during the post-surgical period, the remaining donor hair follicles, which were not harvested, can start to grow in and help camouflage the donor region of the scalp as early as five to seven days post procedure.
The ideal candidates for FUE are patients who keep their hair short on the sides, which is not ideal for FUT (due to the presence of a thin, linear scar) or those wishing to avoid a linear incision altogether.
FUE can be combined with FUT as a subsequent surgical procedure option when patients are no longer candidates for FUT harvesting.
One thing to note is that FUE is NOT a scarless procedure. Small pinpoint scars result, but in most patients, they remain relatively hidden as the surrounding native hairs (not extracted) in the donor area grow.
The remaining steps of the surgery after harvesting are identical in both FUE and FUT hair restoration procedures (See 3rd-5th phases above).
Whether it’s FUE or FUT that is right for you, there are numerous reasons to choose Root Hair Institute and our hair restoration surgeons.
Here are some of the benefits our patients enjoy:
At Root Hair Institute, it is our utmost priority to create the best possible outcomes for our patients. We love seeing our patients feeling happy and confident. Part of a good outcome is making sure that patients have realistic expectations of the results possible with their surgery. For this reason, we start the process by having those interested in surgery meet with the hair restoration surgeon at their consultation.
Scarring in any surgical procedure is inevitable as the skin must heal from the cuts created during the procedure. However, the surgeons at Root Hair Institute give as much importance to the donor region and potential resultant scars as they do to the recipient area restoration results. They are committed to using the best techniques and technology to provide the most natural-appearing results and minimize potential scarring as much as possible.
To help our patients return to their normal activities sooner, the team at Root Hair Institute educates patients on post-operative routines to help ensure the recovery process is as smooth and quick as possible. Our team understands that hair restoration surgery can sometimes be difficult to understand and to some, even scary. That is exactly why the surgeons and team at Root Hair Institute remain available to their patients and create good follow-up plans so that patients can feel confident in their post-operative process.
At Root Hair Institute, we make sure to tailor the exact treatment plan for each patient based on their individual needs. Generally, hair transplant fees largely depend on how much hair is needed to cover the thinning or bald areas, the techniques used, the clinic facility and location, and the doctor and team.
At Root Hair Institute (RHI), our pricing depends on the number of grafts required among other factors. Most cases at RHI range between $7,000 to $20,000. To get an idea of how much your hair transplant procedure is going to cost, talk to a specialist at Root Hair Institute to get evaluated.
We also offer multiple financing options. This can help make hair transplant fees more manageable for many individuals.
Reach out to us to discuss the best treatment plan and get an estimate of cost for your individual case.
Choosing the right hair surgeon is one of the most important, if not the most important, factor to consider when deciding to go through hair restoration.
It’s crucial to choose the best and most trusted hair restoration surgeons and team who will put your best interest first, and Root Hair Institute is undoubtedly the best choice in Greater Seattle, here are the reasons why:
At Root Hair Institute, we understand that our clients have different struggles, and there could be different solutions that best fit them. Therefore, our doctors take the time to make a diagnosis, assess the degree of hair loss and potential future loss, and then make appropriate personalized recommendations.
Both Dr. Natalie Kash and Dr. Rahil B. Roopani are fellowship-trained hair restoration surgeons committed to advancing the field of hair restoration surgery through providing excellent patient care, leadership, and research.
Aside from having a team of experts, Root Hair Institute is committed to using the best and latest techniques and technology.
Root Hair Institute is dedicated to providing outstanding results and overall experience. We are dedicated to our patients in educating them appropriately and being available to them every step of the way.
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) is a hair restoration surgery where a doctor makes a small cut in the skin on the side or back of your head and removes a few hair follicles at a time. The balding areas of the scalp are then filled with these follicles.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a less invasive hair restoration surgery that’s done by transplanting individual hair follicles from the skin to areas of the body with sparser or nonexistent hair.
The precise time frame varies from patient to patient. However, most people commonly notice new hair growth in around three to four months, and the full effects appear after a year.
Most patients continue to make gains between 12 and 18 months after the treatment as the thickness and texture of the newly generated hair grafts improve.
After surgery, it’s best to take 10–14 days off from work. If at all possible, try working from home, even for a few days. And when going back to work, if necessary, put on a hat to safeguard your hair transplants.
A local anesthetic and sedative are typically used during a hair transplant, so you’ll be awake but won’t experience any pain. There should be nothing to worry about as the physicians will make sure to make it a great and painless procedure.
Medical Therapies
Hair Restoration Surgery
Beard Restoration Surgery
Eyebrow Restoration Surgery
Scalp Injections
Scalp Microneedling
Low-Level Light Therapy
Scalp Micro-pigmentation
