In this episode, Dr. Danyo discusses who is most likely to benefit from a FUE procedure, particularly the shave-less variety the doctor and his team specialize in performing. He also advises potential candidates on when to seek a consultation and what questions to ask when you do.
Why Hair Restoration Is So Important to Dr. Danyo
“You create a younger version of somebody, which is awesome.”
People come back and you can tell they just feel better, they’re more confident, sometimes they’ve also chosen to get fitter and to lose weight as a result. It’s a big change you can really see.
In his new office space, Dr. Danyo tries to create more of an experience for patients, something more like a spa day than an outpatient procedure.
The new venue is light and airy, with a modern, Scandinavian feel. The location in Alpharetta means there’s a lot to do nearby, too, which is especially good for out-of-towners.
So, let’s start the basics first.
What is FUE?
FUE stands for Follicular Unit Excision.
It’s called excision to emphasize the fact that it is a surgical procedure, where tissue is excised and manipulated.
There’s no linear scar like older hair restorations – it is a fine, very precise procedure using the latest surgical hair restoration tools.
The doctor uses extraction technology that uses oscillation and a trumpeted punch to get much better grafts, better growth, and a much better end result with greater speed and accuracy.
FUE is Dr. Danyo’s and his team’s specialty, and he’s one of the top practitioners of both traditional and Shave-less FUE.
Who Are Great Candidates for Fue?
The majority of the patients the doctor sees are very good candidates for FUE, which is great news for most people, since it is such a superior procedure.
FUE is very good for people with:
- Natural recession at the hairline. This is a common concern, and people with this kind of hair loss tend to do very well with FUE.
- Severe balding. Those with lots of loss, including at the hairline, middle scalp and crown can be good candidates for FUE. However, the limited donor supply sites on the head means they need to take from other areas of body like the beard and chest.
Am I a Candidate for FUE, and Should I Go Forward With Hair Transplant, If So?
The question, says Dr. Danyo, is how hair loss is affecting you. For some people, they can go about life with partial baldness, or just shave their head and be very happy.
For others, it’s really affecting them mentally and their confidence is shot. It can really affect your well-being if hair loss is bothering you.
Is There a Good Way to Know If FUE Is the Best Choice for Me?
The doctor says that when he sees younger patients experiencing the beginnings of hair loss, they often start with non-surgical interventions like Rogaine (minoxidil) or Propecia (finasteride), or both.
The doctor usually likes to do oral minoxidil over topical because it can have great results without the hassle of putting on liquid twice a day.
Platelet (PRP) injections can help stall hair loss and provide some regrowth without surgery, as well.
For patients well into middle age, FUE hair restoration can be a good choice when medical management isn’t enough.
Is There An Age Limit for Hair Restoration?
A lot of places, they say you have to be 28 or 30 for a hair transplant, but Dr. Danyo has seen patients who are well out of the norm, with very early hair loss, who need it sooner.
His youngest patient needed a restoration at 18 due to a genetic condition that caused early onset hair loss, and the results were transformative.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for FUE?
Certain types of unusual alopecias, called scarring alopecias, don’t always have great outcomes with FUE.
One of these, CCCA, is somewhat common in African American women with hair loss, and it can be a big challenge.
In these types of cases, the doctor likes to do a small test run with a smaller number of grafts – maybe 100 – to see how successful they are before proceeding.
The good news is that the vast majority of people with hair loss are great candidates for FUE.
And for those who aren’t, the doctor has an array of excellent management options that can help those experiencing different types of hair loss.
Is FUE the Best Surgical Option?
Dr. Danyo thinks so, and that’s why he only performs FUE transplants.
He does both traditional and Shave-less FUE, plus long-hair FUE, which preserves the hair length for even more discretion.
What to Look for and Avoid When Choosing a Hair Transplant Practice:
- A doctor performing the procedure. Many practices let surgical techs perform these, and that is not ideal.
- Individual assessment. Thoroughly evaluating your case to determine the best course of treatment, either through surgical or medical management, is crucial.
- Be wary of practices that suggest really large procedures. Something like a 3500-graft procedure is major, expensive and not often necessary. The doctor says most procedures he performs are much smaller than that, with great results due to the high graft viability rate of his technique.
- Dr. Danyo and his team have been practicing and perfecting FUE procedures for years, and they come highly recommended by hundreds of former patients.
Want to Find Out if You’d Be a Good Candidate for FUE?
Dr. Danyo and his team would love to see you. Set up a virtual consultation with him now.
