Sapphire FUE

Sapphire FUE is a method that follows the standard FUE procedure with a twist that makes it preferable over the regular FUE method. The difference relies mainly on the material used to make the equipment which brings about significant effects on the end results. As the name suggests, sapphire FUE uses blades made of sapphire, a valuable gemstone, to make its blades instead of regular steel blades to create incisions on the scalp for implantation. The use of sapphire stone as the material by which the blades are made of, influences the shape of the blade and consequently the overall end result. Sapphire blades have a V-shaped pin as opposed to the regular U-shaped pin of steel blades. This sharp edge of sapphire blades makes for much accurate incisions resulting in smaller channels; and thereby eliminating the risk of irritating neighbor hair follicles and scarring. The absence of any risk of irritating neighbor follicles makes this an ideal surgical transplant for men and women suffering from recent hair loss as the hair density is believed to still be high.

Following a sapphire FUE transplantation, one may begin to experience a slight swelling or soreness in areas of the scalp that have been operated on; this should not be a cause of concern as it is natural. The swelling and soreness are only temporary and will fade out in a few days. Patients who undergo sapphire FUE should expect shedding of transplanted hairs within 3 to 4 weeks of the surgery, hair loss at this stage is normal and does not affect the results of the treatment. The hair shed during this period will begin to regrow in a 2 months’ time. Post a sapphire FUE surgery, it will take up to a year for optimal results to appear. However, significant changes in hair growth will begin to show 4-6 months after the procedure.

The duration of a sapphire FUE hair transplant depends on how many grafts need to be extracted and transplanted, but it takes 8-10 hours on average for it to be completed.

The surgeons and technicians will make the final decisions regarding our patient’s candidacy upon consultation, but in general the defining factors include:

1. Cause of Baldness

If the cause of hair loss in localised areas experienced by the patient stems from trauma (scarring or burns), androgenic alopecia, traction alopecia, or alopecia marginalis; then the patient can be considered a suitable candidate for sapphire FUE.

2. Donor Hair Density

FUE is a procedure that extracts hair from sites on your scalp that are dense in hair – usually referred to as donor sites – and transferring them to problem areas. With that being said, if you are considering FUE, it is essential for you to have a dense donor site.

3. Beginnings of hair thinning

Patients who are beginning to experience hair loss and wish to increase the density of their hair are advised to undergo sapphire FUE hair transplant surgery. This is an ideal surgical transplant for men and women just starting to lose hair as the hair density is believed to still be high. Using sapphire FUE ensures a hair transplant without disturbing any hair follicles in the vicinity as opposed to standard FUE.

At Vera Clinic we provide every individual patient with an after-care kits that contains information on how to manage the transplanted hairs for optimal results and to eliminate scarring. In addition to this, our after-care kits include necessary supplies such as shampoos, creams, antibacterial serums and pain-killers; designed exclusively to be gentle on the scalp and the transplanted hairs post an FUE and to shorten healing time.