According to the ISHRS 2022 Practice Census [1], the hair transplant industry is flourishing, with a 152% worldwide increase in the number of procedures between 2010 and 2021. That is partly because of new technical developments that have made this surgery ever safer, simpler and with more natural-looking results. One of these innovations is the sapphire hair transplant.
This procedure is often presented by clinics as a superior form of follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair restoration surgery. That is because the sapphire blade it uses is more precise and can make smaller, cleaner cuts in the transplant area [2]. This article will tell you everything you need to know about sapphire FUE, such as:
A sapphire hair transplant is a refined type of FUE hair restoration surgery that uses scalpels with sapphire blades to make incisions into the graft implantation area of your scalp [3]. These innovative devices have been increasingly used in the past years, due to their sharpness and small width, which allows for improved precision.
A sapphire blade is a blade made from a single sapphire crystal which is cut into a V shape. It is fully sterilisable and comes in a variety of widths, from 0.15 to 1.2 mm, and a 4-5 mm blade length [2][3].
Its small, arrow-shaped tip can create fine, clean cuts. The acute angles available make it perfect for fine detail work, such as hairline transplants or eyebrow transplants. This type of blade is also long-lasting and can withstand at least 5000 incisions before it gets dull [2].
A sapphire hair transplant uses the exact same technique as a traditional FUE surgery, where surgeons use needles or steel blades to create the transplant area incisions:
Compared with standard FUE, Sapphire blades can make smaller slits, which allows the surgeons to pack the grafts more densely. This can allow fuller hair growth in the transplant area. However, this is only recommended for patients with plentiful hair in their donor area.
Like every medical device, there are advantages and disadvantages to using a sapphire blade for hair transplants. It is generally considered superior to using needles to puncture the recipient area, as it creates smaller, cleaner incisions [2]. However, more research needs to be conducted to determine how it compares to every other type of medical device used for hair transplants.
One study conducted in 2021 showed the 30-degree angled sapphire blade to be superior to traditional 30-degree angled blades and far superior to rectangular blades when it comes to tissue injury [4]. However, a different study revealed that custom-cut razor blades cause significantly less tissue damage than a sapphire blade [5].
Here are some of the main benefits of using a sapphire blade for your hair restoration surgery:
Using sapphire blades for surgical hair restoration can also have some drawbacks, such as:
Your hair restoration surgeon is the best person to ask whether a sapphire hair transplant is the best option for you. They will take numerous factors into consideration, such as your scalp properties, your desired results, the amount of hair available in your donor area and your overall medical history.
Direct hair implantation (DHI) is a type of FUE hair restoration that uses a medical device called an implanter pen to insert the hair grafts into the transplant area [6]. This removes the need to create slits with a blade or needle and insert the grafts manually.
Research is needed to determine how sapphire hair restoration results compare against DHI outcomes in different conditions and circumstances. However, some surgeons believe that using the DHI method is safer for the grafts, as they are no longer handled with forceps [3].
There are few specific risks posed by sapphire hair transplants. The risks that do exist generally revolve around insufficient skill or experience on the surgeon’s part when using the blade. They may fail to give the slits the appropriate depth, or they may damage healthy hair follicles while cutting from certain angles.
However, besides these specific risks, you’ll face the same possible hair transplant side effects that can occur with any FUE procedure, such as [7]:
You can help reduce these risks by choosing a reputed hair transplant clinic for your procedure and closely following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions.
In principle, most people who are good candidates for a hair transplant can benefit from a sapphire hair restoration. It can be especially helpful for people with plentiful healthy hair in their donor areas who would like to achieve substantial hair density in their balding areas.
However, your surgeon will be sure to let you know if using a sapphire blade is the best choice for your hair restoration or if you would benefit more from opting for standard FUE, DHI, or another more suitable graft implantation method. FUT is normally the most appropriate technique for high-graft hair transplants.
Sapphire hair transplants are slightly more costly than traditional FUE procedures, as the device used for this procedure is more expensive and requires more skill and expertise to operate. However, the exact price depends on a multitude of factors, such as the number of grafts you require, the clinic you opt for and any extra services you may choose.
The average hair transplant cost for 1500 hair grafts is £4,820 in the UK. Opting for a sapphire procedure would probably set you back over £5,000 for the same graft count.
Not every clinic offers this type of surgery, as they may not own the sapphire blades or their surgeons may not have sufficient training or experience in operating with them. Clinics that do will be happy to offer you a personalised price quote, based on your specific hair transplant needs.
Average UK hair transplant costs for Norwood stage 2-3 hair loss
If you are experiencing stable hair loss, a permanent hair transplant can be the best way to recover your full head of hair. However, not everyone is eligible for this procedure. Book a free, no-obligation hair transplant consultation today and our experienced surgeons will tell you everything you need to know about this procedure. They will listen carefully to your medical history, ask about your current state of health and closely examine your hair and scalp.
If they determine that a sapphire hair transplant is the best option for your specific hair loss needs, our surgeons will be sure to offer it to you during your consultation. And you can rest assured that your hair will be in the most competent hands, as The Wimpole Clinic has an over 97% hair restoration surgery success rate, regardless of the method we use. See our results for yourself in our before and after hair transplant photo gallery.
If you would like to find out more about sapphire hair transplants, feel free to peruse the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Sapphire is chosen to craft these surgical blades because it has a specific set of properties that make it ideal for this purpose. It is very hard and durable, but at the same time, it can be cut very thin and with ultra-fine edges, due to its superior surface smoothness.
Sapphire is also biocompatible and non-reactive, which means it doesn’t interact with your tissues or release particles, so it is unlikely to cause allergies or irritations. Finally, it is easy to sterilise, as it does not encourage microbial growth.
Seeing your final results after your sapphire hair transplant takes as long as it would for any kind of hair transplant – around 9 months to 1 year. However, you will likely start to see new hair growth in your hair transplant area around the 3-4 month mark.
If more than 4-5 months have passed since your surgery and your hair still hasn’t started to grow back, make sure to let your surgeon know. They will likely schedule a follow-up visit to check your progress.
No, since the equipment is costly and requires a higher level of surgical skill and experience to use, not all hair transplant clinics offer this service at this time. When calling to schedule a hair transplant consultation, be sure to ask whether the clinic you are considering offers this service.
During the consultation, it is a good idea to ask about your surgeon’s experience operating with sapphire blades and to request to see their sapphire hair transplant portfolio.
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