Overview of Follicular Extraction

Follicular unit extraction (FUE), now named as follicular unit excision, is one of the methods of harvesting hair follicles from the donor area for implanting in the recipient area. The occipital scalp area is the most common donor area, but nonscalp donor areas like beard, chest, and other hairy body parts can be used as donor hair follicle area. The extraction of the hair follicle leaves a tiny circular scar over the donor area. Over the past 20 years, various devices for FUE have been developed, starting from manual, simple motorized to highly advanced motors with rotation, oscillation, and vibration. Similarly, different types of punch are used: dull, sharp, ultrasharp, serrated, hybrid and specially designed punch blade for long hair follicles harvesting in various diameters from 0.7 mm to 1.1 mm. The follicles can be harvested either by manual method or by motorized method.