FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) Surgery
At Best Hair Transplant, we believe there are good candidates for both FUT and FUE.
We constantly see advertisements in airlines and other various magazines showing huge horrible scars left by bad FUT procedures and then comparing those to what an FUE would look like in comparison leaving no visible linear donor area scar.
These ads can be very misleading and confuse patients with unrealistic expectations.
Over the past few years emphasis on FUE being the more “advanced” or “new technology” have been emphasized and misrepresented.
FUE is great for smaller surgeries, eyebrows, and men who wear their hair buzz cut short in the back of the head between their ears where a FUT scar would be visible. FUE still has its limitations.
Smaller special FUE cases can even be performed with donor hair kept longer like with patients wearing their hair 2-3” in length.
FUT is still by far the most cost-effective procedure requested by patients inquiring about hair restoration surgery.
FUT is a process that allows the surgeon to use a strip of tissue to restore healthy hair follicles where they are needed. Our doctor recommends this method for hair restoration frequently, particularly in cases of advanced hair loss, as it produces the best results for restoring fuller hair.
The FUT Process
Our doctor performs follicular unit transfers/transplants (FUT) utilizing a narrow, superficial strip of skin. Hair follicles are transferred in natural groupings of 1-4 hairs taken from the back of the scalp. The follicles are easily identified and protected with individual dissection under stereoscopic microscopes.
Smaller 1-2 hair grafts are required in the hairline, but larger 3-4 hair grafts offer additional density in the top and crown regions. The procedure allows for large numbers of grafts (3,000 to 4,500) to be placed in one day.
A team of assistants are dissecting the grafts from the strip while the doctor closes the donor incision and creates the recipient sites in the balding areas. Once the grafts are prepared, placement into the recipient sites can be efficiently accomplished by the team. The hair in the donor areas covers the incision while healing occurs.
Trained surgeons are comfortable performing this procedure without concern that an unsightly scar will result. He believes that understanding surgical wound healing and how to not “overdo it” is the solution to preventing unacceptable scars.
ADVANTAGES OF THE FOLLICULAR UNIT TRANSFER PROCEDURE
- Shaving back & sides of scalp is not necessary for procedure
- More grafts (follicles) can be transferred in one procedure
- Closed linear incision hidden under existing hair
- Less expensive than FUE procedures
- Far less scar overall
- Can have FUT & FUE in one procedure for largest graft transfer possible
DISADVANTAGES OF THE FUT HAIR TRANSPLANT PROCEDURE
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- Linear scar but not significant with skill and procedure
- Sutures (stitches) or clips must be removed in 7-10 days from your hair loss surgery
African American FUT Results
This African American patient recently underwent a FUT procedure with Best Hair Transplant and came in to have his sutures removed. As with all FUT procedures, there is typically a thin line scar visible on the scalp when your hair is worn short.
This is one of the best results we’ve seen from a FUT closure. You’ll notice the line is barely noticeable and has healed quite well.