Follicular Unit Extraction — the gold standard in modern hair restoration
Consultant-planned FUE performed by our specialist surgical team at Harley Street Hospital, 19 Harley Street. DrQ personally leads every consultation and oversees every clinical decision.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is the most advanced method of hair transplantation available today. Individual follicular units — groups of 1 to 4 hairs — are extracted directly from the donor area (typically the back and sides of the scalp) using a small circular punch, then implanted into the recipient area with precision.
Unlike the older FUT (strip) technique, FUE leaves no linear scar and allows patients to wear their hair short without visible signs of surgery. Recovery is faster, discomfort is minimal, and the results — when performed by a skilled surgeon — are indistinguishable from natural growth.
At Harley Street Hairline, DrQ personally designs every hairline and oversees every clinical decision. Procedures are performed by our specialist surgical team to his precise specification.
| Factor | FUE | FUT Strip |
|---|---|---|
| Scarring | Small dots only | Linear scar |
| Short hair styles | Yes | Limited |
| Recovery time | 3–5 days | 7–14 days |
| Pain level | Minimal | Moderate |
| Graft quality | Excellent | Excellent |
| Natural result | Yes | Yes |
A typical FUE session at Harley Street Hairline takes 6–9 hours depending on graft count. Here is what to expect.
You arrive at Harley Street Hospital, 19 Harley Street. Consent is reconfirmed, pre-operative photos are taken and the surgical plan is reviewed with DrQ.
DrQ personally marks the hairline before a single graft is harvested — age-appropriate, natural in shape, accounting for the likely progression of your hair loss.
The donor zone is trimmed to 1–2 mm, allowing precise follicle visualisation and clean access. The area is cleansed and photographed before extraction begins.
Local anaesthetic is administered to the donor and recipient areas. Most patients describe this as the only momentarily uncomfortable part of the day.
Individual follicular units extracted by DrQ personally using a precision micro-punch. Harvest is distributed evenly to avoid visible thinning of the donor zone.
Harvested grafts kept in chilled solution and inspected under magnification. Careful handling at this stage is critical to graft survival and final density.
Grafts placed at precise angles, depths and densities. Single-hair grafts at the hairline; multi-hair grafts behind for density. This layering creates the illusion of natural growth.
Full written aftercare instructions provided. You leave the same day. Desk work typically resumed within 3–5 days. Strenuous exercise avoided for two weeks.
Mild swelling and redness normal. Sleep elevated, apply gentle saline sprays as instructed. No touching or scratching.
Small scabs appear over recipient sites — completely normal. They fall away naturally. Most patients return to desk work by day 3–5.
Transplanted hairs shed — this is expected and normal. The follicle root is intact and will regrow permanently.
New hairs begin to emerge, thin and fine at first. Patience is key — results build gradually each month.
Significant coverage now visible. Texture and calibre improve month by month. Most patients see their biggest transformation here.
Full result achieved. DrQ reviews 12-month photographs with you — this is when before/after comparisons are most meaningful.
The most common presentation. FUE addresses frontal recession, temple loss, mid-scalp thinning and crown coverage. Graft range: 1,000–5,000+ depending on Norwood stage and donor availability.
Assess my scalp →Restore sparse or patchy beard coverage, define jawline shape or create a beard where there was none. Grafts are placed at acute angles matching natural beard direction for a fully natural result. Graft range: 500–2,000.
Assess my beard →FUE can restore thinned or absent eyebrows caused by over-plucking, alopecia or natural sparseness. Precise angle and direction placement is critical — this is one of the most technically demanding FUE applications. Graft range: 200–500.
Assess my eyebrows →The scalp is divided into distinct zones for surgical planning. Each zone has different graft density requirements and priority in the overall treatment plan.
▶ Click any zone to see details
Click a zone or the legend to learn more.
Graft counts shown are indicative ranges for a typical case. Exact requirements depend on donor density, hair calibre, skin laxity and patient goals — confirmed only after a private doctor assessment.
Three precision phases, performed by our specialist surgical team under DrQ’s clinical oversight.
Individual follicular units are harvested from the donor zone (typically the posterior scalp) using a 0.7–0.9mm punch. Each punch is placed at the precise angle of natural hair growth to minimise transection and maximise graft survival. No linear incision — no linear scar.
Harvested grafts are immediately placed into a chilled preservation solution and assessed under magnification. The surgical team categorises each unit — single, double or multi-hair — and trims any excess tissue to optimise implantation and survival rate. Grafts are kept in temperature-controlled medium throughout.
Grafts are placed individually into the recipient area using an implanter pen or pre-made channels. Angle, direction and depth are controlled precisely — this is what determines whether the result looks entirely natural or detectably transplanted. DrQ personally designs the hairline. All grafts are placed by our specialist surgical team to his exact specification.
Choose the image that most closely matches your pattern of loss. Dark = hair, light = scalp. Front-facing view.
Start with a free private photo assessment — DrQ will give you an honest candidacy opinion before any consultation fee is charged.
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