First, we prep the safe donor area on the back and sides of the head (where the hair is DHT-resistant and genetically programmed to grow for life) by shaving the hair short in the donor zone following the surgery plan. With FUE the entire back and sides of the head are shaved whereas with MDEE® only a narrow strip across the back of the head is shaved short to prepare for the extraction of the follicular units or the removal of the donor strip of tissue respectively.

With FUE the Safe System, a handheld motorized punch device, is used to extract individual hair follicles from the donor area one at a time. Follicular units are extracted using a 0.8 to 1 mm punch which makes a tiny circular incision around the top of the hair so that the entire hair graft can be directly extracted from the scalp. This method minimizes the scarring, leaving tiny, pinpoint scars that are camouflaged as the shaved hair begins to grow. For MDEE®, an elliptical-shaped strip of tissue is excised and then dissected under the microscope.

Once harvested, the hair grafts are placed under the Ziering Scope and are meticulously trimmed, prepped, and placed in a specialized solution to keep them moist and vital. This process ensures optimal quality and survivability for each hair graft.

Next, your Ziering surgeon will make tiny incisions at the proper angle, direction, and orientation in the balding and thinning areas of the scalp, following the overall hair transplant design discussed during the consultation. This step requires a blend of artistry and precision to achieve a natural-looking result that maximizes the use of the available donor hair while also creating sites that encourage the transplanted hair to grow in a natural, aesthetically pleasing pattern.

The final step involves the delicate placement of each hair graft into the recipient sites. Skilled hair transplant technicians work with precision, making sure that each graft is positioned and placed, matching the proper angles and orientation of the recipient site. Proper angle and orientation contribute significantly to the aesthetic outcome of the hair transplant. If the grafts are placed at incorrect angles or orientations, the newly transplanted hair may not blend seamlessly with the native hair. Gentle handling of the grafts is required to prevent damaging or crushing the grafts which could diminish graft survival rates.