Will FUE leave scars in the recipient area?

FUE is a method of harvesting hair follicles. It will leave tiny round dot scars. FUE is not a scarless surgery.

The FUE method of hair transplant surgery utilizes individual graft extraction from the scalp. Each graft is extracted one-by-one directly from the scalp. No scalp excision is required like with the FUT/Strip method. While no elongated scar is left behind by the FUE method, there is still a possibility for scarring. This comes from the punches that are being made in the back of the scalp to extract grafts.

That being said, if the FUE method of surgery is done correctly, with the latest advanced extraction tools and advanced skill and technique, scarring can be non-existent or at least non-visible to the naked eye. In order to ensure your surgery is as scarless as possible, you’ll want to ensure your surgeon is using the smallest extraction tool available. Many hair transplant centers use a 1.0-2.0mm extraction tool. I prefer to use a 0.7mm punch. This greatly reduces the risk for scarring. Feel free to read more about my minimal scarring technique on my website.

Every surgery involving incisions or extraction will result in scarring at some level.  The goal of FUE (vs strip) is to replace a long, visible scar with many very small, less visible scars.  If you like to keep you hair long in the back of the head it doesn't matter which type of procedure is used to remove grafts from the donor area.  If you keep you hair short I would recommend FUE because the extraction scars are significantly less noticeable, but not invisible.