# Sapphire FUE

> Citation bundle for Sapphire FUE on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/sapphire-fue
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/sapphire-fue

- Category: hair-transplant

## Description

Hair transplantation is a surgical technique that removes hair follicles from one part of the body, called the 'donor site', to a bald or balding part of the body known as the 'recipient site'. The technique is primarily used to treat male pattern baldness.

## Overview

Sapphire FUE is a form of hair transplantation carried out using follicular unit extraction (FUE). Hair transplantation is a surgical technique in which hair follicles are moved from a donor site to a bald or thinning recipient site, and is used mainly to treat male pattern baldness; follicles that are genetically resistant to balding, such as those at the back of the head, are relocated to the balding scalp. In follicular unit extraction, the donor follicles are removed one at a time as individual follicular units, in contrast to strip harvesting, the other main donor method, which is used in follicular unit transplantation (FUT). Because hair grows naturally in groupings of one to four hairs, current technique harvests and transplants these follicular units in their natural groupings and angles them to match the direction of the surrounding hair, so the result looks natural. At an initial consultation the surgeon analyses the scalp, may measure its laxity with a laxometer and its existing density with folliscopy, discusses the patient's expectations, and advises whether one session or several will be needed. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under injected local anaesthesia, with optional mild sedation, after the donor area is shampooed and treated with an antibacterial agent. Careful extraction that avoids transecting the follicle helps keep the transplanted hair viable, post-operative antibiotics are commonly prescribed to prevent infection, and temporary shock loss of hair is a common side effect.

## Common risks

- a tight, achy and swollen scalp for a few days
- temporary scabbing where the hair was transplanted
- a single scar or a number of very tiny scars
- bleeding
- infection
- an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic

## FAQs

### How much a hair transplant costs?

A hair transplant in the UK can cost anywhere between £1,000 and £30,000, depending on the extent of hair loss, the type of procedure you have, and the quality of the clinic and its team.

### What to think about before you have a hair transplant?

If you're thinking about having a hair transplant in England, check with the [Care Quality Commission (CQC)](https://www.cqc.org.uk/) to see if the hospital or clinic is registered with them.

### What a hair transplant involves?

A hair transplant is usually carried out under [local anaesthetic](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/local-anaesthesia/) and sedation, which means you'll be awake but will not feel any pain.

### What could go wrong?

A hair transplant is generally a safe procedure, but as with any type of operation there's always a small risk of:

### What to do if you have problems?

Cosmetic surgery can sometimes go wrong and the results may not be what you expected.

## Alternative treatments

- **DHI** — Implanter-pen technique; tighter hairline angles at the cost of slower session throughput.
- **FUT** — Linear strip harvest; higher graft yield per session, visible scar at the donor.

## Sources

- [WHO Surgical Safety Checklist](https://www.who.int/teams/integrated-health-services/patient-safety/research/safe-surgery) — World Health Organization (accessed 2026-05-09)