What Is a Single Follicle Hair Graft? A Complete Guide to Precision FUE

A single follicle hair graft is an advanced hair restoration technique that harvests individual follicles rather than groups of follicles.

Traditionally, hair restoration simply filled in areas of the scalp experiencing hair loss. Since then, specialists have developed new techniques and approaches to focus on improving the artistry of the results. When researching hair restoration or hair transplantation procedures, patients are now seeing new phrases such as “single follicle hair graft” or “precision FUE.” This blog serves as a guide to help you understand these new concepts in hair restoration.

Dr. Michael Omidi is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with over a decade of experience in his field. Dr. Omidi has established a strong reputation across Los Angeles for his stunning, natural-looking results and his ability to help numerous patients transform their appearance and self-confidence.

If you are ready to learn more about precision FUE, please schedule a consultation online or call our Beverly Hills office directly at (310) 281-0155.

About Single Follicle Hair Grafts

Single follicle hair grafts are a type of hair graft that consists of a single hair and follicle, unlike the traditional two-to-four-hair grafts. Single follicle hairs are present around the hairline or temples, as they create an organic and gradual shift between your skin and thicker hair growth. Dr. Omidi can extract and transplant these hair grafts during a precision FUE procedure to restore subtle yet profound growth in more transitional areas of your scalp, creating truly blended results.

About Precision FUE

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a type of hair transplantation procedure that individually extracts hair follicles from the back and sides of the scalp and transplants them to areas experiencing thinning or shedding. ⁽¹⁾ Precision FUE is a specific variation of this procedure that enhances accuracy when placing grafts. This procedure takes viable hair follicles from areas of the scalp resistant to hair loss and transplants them to more transitional areas, such as the temples, hairline, or certain facial hair zones. Dr. Omidi can perform precision FUE in place of traditional FUE hair transplantation to help you address any areas of the scalp you want to restore a fuller yet soft appearance.

Candidates

You may be an ideal candidate for a single follicle hair graft if you are experiencing thinning or shedding around various areas of the scalp or are interested in transplanting a smaller number of hair grafts to create a softer, more natural appearance. This procedure is especially effective for addressing more prominent and transitional areas, such as your temples or hairline.

To qualify for this procedure, you should be in good general health and maintain realistic expectations regarding your results. You should be nonsmoking or willing to quit using nicotine altogether. It is also important that you are over 25, as getting a hair transplant too early can compromise your long-term results. ⁽²⁾ Dr. Omidi will assess your candidacy during your personal consultation.

Personal Consultation

Each patient is unique, which is why we ask that you attend a personal consultation before scheduling your precision FUE procedure. During this consultation, Dr. Omidi will explain what single follicle hair grafts are and what precision FUE is. He will ask you several questions about your medical history, personal concerns, and aesthetic goals. He will also perform a physical evaluation to assess your scalp’s health, areas of thinning, potential donor grafts, and your natural growth patterns.

Dr. Omidi will use this information to finalize your candidacy and create your customized treatment plan. He will determine how many grafts to transplant, where to take them from, and where to place them. As he does this, he will explain his process so you have a full understanding of what to expect. He will also answer any questions you may have about single follicle hair grafts, precision FUE, or hair transplants in general.

To schedule this consultation with Dr. Omidi, please submit our online contact form or call (310) 281-0155 to reach our Beverly Hills office.

Preparation

Once you have scheduled your precision FUE hair transplant, Dr. Omidi will ask you to make certain preparations. To help, he will give you a set of detailed preparation instructions, which may direct you to:

Procedure

On the day of your procedure, Dr. Omidi will meet with you one last time to reconfirm your treatment plan. After this, he will administer a strong local anesthetic to your scalp to ensure your comfort.

Dr. Omidi will then use a circular punch tool to extract individual hair grafts from the back and sides of the scalp. He takes these hairs from specific areas that are more resistant to thinning or shedding to ensure their longevity. He will then carefully separate the grafts to isolate single hairs as opposed to the traditional two to four hairs.

Dr. Omidi will then place several small incisions around your desired treatment areas. He will make each incision at varying degrees and angles to match the natural growth patterns of the hair in the treatment area. He will then place the single follicle grafts into these incisions, seamlessly repopulating the area with new hair.

Recovery

After your precision FUE procedure, you will need to take some time for yourself to focus on your recovery. It is common to experience some swelling or numbness around the treated areas throughout your initial recovery phase. These effects are temporary and will dissipate on their own.

As you continue to recover, you will need to follow several guidelines to optimize your results. You will need to avoid washing or showering for several days after your procedure so as not to irritate the grafts. You will also need to refrain from brushing or combing your hair, as well as wearing headwear, for several weeks. You may return to most of your daily activities after approximately several days to one week, but you will need to avoid any strenuous activities until Dr. Omidi clears you to return.

Dr. Omidi will provide you with a full set of aftercare instructions so you understand how to care for yourself as you heal. If any questions or concerns arise, we ask that you contact us so that our team can provide you with information or support.

Results

You will be able to enjoy initial growth approximately 3 to 4 months after your procedure, with the refined results becoming more apparent after 6 to 12 months. While your results will vary, you can expect denser-looking hair and a more youthful-looking appearance overall.

The results of precision FUE are long-lasting, as your hair will begin growing on its own once the follicle settles into its new placement. This means you will be able to cut, style, and wear it as you please.

Cost of Precision FUE in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA

The cost of your precision FUE procedure can vary, as Dr. Omidi fully tailors each treatment plan to your personal concerns. Several factors we consider include the size of the treatment area, the number of single follicle hair grafts needed, and the overall complexity of your procedure. Once Dr. Omidi has met with you to discuss each detail of your procedure, he will give you a comprehensive cost estimate. We additionally offer financing for those who qualify.

To learn more about the pricing of your procedure, please schedule a consultation online or call (310) 281-0155.

FAQ

References

1. Dua A, Dua K. Follicular unit extraction hair transplant. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery. 2010;3(2):76-81. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.69015
2. Zito PM, Raggio BS. Hair Transplantation. Nih.gov. Published February 12, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547740/#article-22486.s4