At the generous invitation of the Korean Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons, Dr. Sam Lam attended their International Congress in Seoul on June 1st-2nd, 2024. As one of the world’s leading experts in the complex field of hair restoration, he shared his wealth of knowledge during a lecture on crown hair restoration. The next day, he led a table discussion on follicular unit extraction (FUE).

What is FUE?

FUE is the process of removing individual hair follicles from another area of the body and transplanting them to the scalp, beard, or other location where a patient desires additional hair growth. The donor follicles are usually taken from the back of the head or sometimes the chest. This technique is typically performed with a special device for rapid removal and transplantation.

How Does FUE Compare to FUT?

FUT, or follicular unit transplantation, primarily differs from FUT based on how the follicles are extracted. Rather than taking out follicles one at a time, a thin strip of hair is removed. (The incision is hidden within the remaining hairline.) Dr. Lam can then use the follicles from the strip to fill out your area of hair loss.

Which Method Does Dr. Lam Use for Crown Hair Restoration?

FUE is often a fantastic choice for patients with a small to medium amount of hair loss on the crown, as it results in minimal scarring and is highly customizable. However, as the baldness on the crown becomes larger, the number of grafts required increases significantly. This makes the wealth of follicles found on a donor strip from FUT more appealing.

Additionally, taking too many follicles with FUE runs the risk of you not having enough hair available for another transplant in the future, such as to the front of the scalp. This issue is minimized with FUT.

What Makes Hair Restoration on the Crown Extra Complex?

The crown of the head is very noticeable right at the top of the scalp, making an expert treatment essential for a patient’s appearance. Also, the hairs in this area follow a “vertex” pattern where they spiral in a circle, which must be meticulously imitated during your treatment to make it look natural.

Which Type of Hair Restoration is Right for Me?

Hair restoration procedures are never one-size-fits-all. Even within the categories of FUE and FUT, Dr. Lam employs numerous variations of them depending on:

  • Patient hair type
  • Area of the body being treated (crown, front of the head, eyebrows, beard, etc.)
  • Size of the treatment area
  • Other procedures being performed simultaneously

How Can I Learn More About Dr. Lam’s Unique Hair Restoration Approach?

Dr. Sam Lam’s expertise in hair restoration is desired by not only his colleagues at lectures, but also patients just like you. If you are located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and would like to learn more about your options, contact the Lam Institute for Hair Restoration today to schedule your consultation.