The Japanese dermatologist Dr. Masumi Inaba is credited with pioneering the transition from the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) method used in hair transplantation to the newer Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) process in 1988.
Dr. Inaba toyed with the idea of using a 1 mm needle punch to extract individual follicular hair units and inject them into the scalp, rather than removing an entire strip of scalp from which to extract hair follicles.
The following year, Dr. Ray Woods and Dr. Angela Campbell of Australia demonstrated a practical FUE technique based on Inaba’s proposal. Further refinements to FUE led to the development of the Sapphire hair transplant method, a highly sophisticated and minimally invasive version of the traditional FUE.
Twenty years since its invention, FUE is credited with changing the lives of countless people seeking a permanent solution to premature hair loss.
In this blog, we’ll tell you what’s special about the Sapphire Blade FUE method and why it’s considered a better option than the traditional or regular FUE as a solution to pattern balding or hair loss.
What Is The Sapphire Hair Transplant?
In the traditional FUE technique, steel blades are used to make incisions on the scalp where hair follicle grafts are to be implanted.
However, in the Sapphire Blade FUE method, doctors use blades tipped with sapphire gemstones to make finer cuts on the scalp for grafts to be inserted.
Substituting sapphire for steel is the core difference between the traditional FUE and the Sapphire hair transplant. Since the cuts are finer and cause less discomfort and pain, the latter method is a preferred option around the world at present.
Our hair restoration clinic in Albania offers the superior Sapphire FUE technique due to its finer incisions, which heal faster with minimal scarring.
Why Is The Sapphire Hair Transplant Popular?
The sapphire crystals on the cutting blade allow for more precise cuts and cause less tissue damage than the steel blade, which has a rougher edge. These fine cuts heal faster, making the Sapphire Blade FUE a much better option than the steel blade.
Cuts made with a Sapphire blade create a V-shaped channel in the scalp instead of the U-shaped cuts that steel blades usually make. Surgeons can exercise superior control over the angle and direction of the cut. The result is a more natural look!
The Sapphire hair transplant method creates much smaller channels than those produced by the steel blade, allowing grafts to be placed closer together. It makes the hair look denser.
Also, since the channel is narrower than that made by the steel blade, the grafts are held firmly in place.
Smooth incisions mean the scalp heals quickly, and there is a lower risk of scabs forming or the skin swelling. Sapphire FUE is considered a preferred option for those with very sensitive skin.
Additionally, sapphire is biocompatible and non-metallic, resulting in less irritation than cuts made by a steel blade.
Overall, by choosing the Sapphire FUE, you can expect less discomfort compared to traditional FUE performed with a steel blade.
Is The Sapphire Blade Hair Transplant Right For You?
If you are weighing the pros and cons of various hair transplantation solutions, the Sapphire Blade hair transplantation is a good fit for those seeking a natural-looking hairline and a shorter healing time. The Sapphire hair transplant also works well for patients with thinner hair shafts. Post-procedure pain, scarring, and scabs are minimal in this procedure.
Wrapping Up
It so happens that medical tourism offers some of the most cost-effective Sapphire hair transplant treatments in Europe. These procedures may be costly in your home country, but at Nouvelle Clinique’s hair restoration clinic in Albania, you can choose this procedure at a value-for-money rate.
Discover the exact steps we follow in the Sapphire FUE and how you can begin your journey to a full head of hair.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Sapphire FUE better than regular FUE?
Sapphire FUE is superior to traditional FUE due to its shorter healing time and greater precision of the cuts, resulting in a more natural overall appearance.
- What is the success rate of Sapphire Blade FUE?
Sapphire FUE is known to have a higher success rate than the regular FUE. It offers a 95% rate of graft survival.
- Which is better: DHI or FUE?
You can opt for FUE if you need to cover a large bald area or require multiple hair grafts. Choose DHI if you want very thick hair in a smaller area, like the hairline.
- Will I go bald after FUE?
You may experience moderate hair loss post-procedure, but normal hair growth should resume in the area where the transplant was performed.

