For patients of African descent, hair loss can feel like an especially isolating journey. Many are told that Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) is not an option for them. Afro-textured hair grows in unpredictable angles and comes in tightly curved follicle structures. This results in a high transection rate, making it challenging to harvest grafts for hair transplants. It’s because of these factors that African descent patients are often discouraged from pursuing FUE.
Why Standard Tools Fail
Afro hair is tightly curled underneath the skin, and the follicles curve in a way that’s hard to see or follow with regular FUE tools. Most standard punches are straight and can’t adapt to this curvature, so they cut through the follicles instead of removing them intact. This is what’s called a transection, and it renders the graft unusable. When surgeons attempt FUE with these conventional devices, the results are often discouraging: high transection rates, poor graft survival, and patients left feeling hopeless about restoring their hair density.
Dr. Sanusi Umar’s Solution To Afro Texture FUE
Designed with inclusivity in mind, the Dr.UGraft Zeus system adapts intelligently to different hair and skin types, including tightly coiled, Afro-textured follicles, reducing the risks that have historically excluded these patients from FUE procedures
The device includes intelligent presets for:
- Afro-textured hair
- Straight or wavy hair
- Beard and body donor hair
- Long hair FUE
The system efficiently covers all FUE scenarios by providing adjustable torque, rotational speed, and movement dynamics. These work in tandem with an advanced hybrid smart punch to optimize follicle harvesting for different skin and hair types. Other standard devices don’t have these custom modes, and, combined with a sharp punch, they more often transect coiled Afro hair. The Dr.UGraft Zeus device is the only all-purpose device capable of performing FUE on textured hair, making it a particularly useful tool for African descent patients who want to undergo hair transplant surgery.
Watch the Dr. UGraft Zeus device in action in this Instagram reel:
Proven Results Backed By Numbers
An independent study by Dr. Umar found that the Dr.UGraft Zeus device yielded consistent results across African descent patients who underwent FUE with it. Less than 10% of the follicular units extracted were broken and transected, whereas standard FUE tools with sharp punches can have a transection rate of up to 80% on coiled, Afro-texture hair.
An Inclusive Tool For All Hair Types
As the inventor of the Dr.UGraft® Zeus™ system, Dr. Umar has not only demonstrated his expertise in hair transplant surgeries, but he has also made the procedure more inclusive to traditionally underserved communities, particularly African descent patients, whose physical characteristics, heritage, and gene mixing have made them a particularly challenging group for FUE. By embracing the diversity of hair types, including those traditionally labeled “too difficult,” Dr. Umar has created a pathway for healing, confidence, and inclusion.
If you have Afro-textured hair and practitioners told you that hair transplants are not an option, it is time to explore the possibilities with Dr. UGraft Zeus. Fill out our online consultation form and discover a treatment designed for you.
Individual results may vary. This story reflects one patient’s personal experience with follicular unit extraction with Dr. Umar. Consult with a qualified physician for personalized advice.
