When you start researching hair transplants, you discover that there are two principal methods: Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). While both are highly effective hair restoration methods, patients are often left with many questions, including what’s the difference? In short, the main difference between FUE and FUT hair transplants is the method of harvesting the hair for grafts, but let’s delve a little deeper into the process.
What Is FUE?
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a hair restoration procedure that uses individual hair follicle transplants. It is one of the most advanced hair restoration options available and is the reason we can create natural-looking and artistic hairline designs.
In the FUE procedure, our team trims the donor area of the scalp, usually located at the back of the head, and prepares it for harvest. At Balance Hair Restoration, we use a special punch device that scores the area around the hair and uses suction to pull the graft into the punch. We can collect 400 to 700 grafts per hour, and most patients will require two to four hours of harvesting. All grafts are transplanted within six hours of being harvested.
FUE is the most common method of hair transplantation, and it offers these benefits:
- No incisions for faster healing
- Little to no scarring
- Can wear hair in any style, long or short, after treatment down to a 1 or 2 guard
- Little to no pain
- No long-term activity restrictions
- Ideal for patients who don’t qualify for FUT due to scalp tightness, lack of donor hair
What is FUT?
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) or the “strip” method is a hair restoration technique that removes a strip of hair-bearing skin from the donor area, usually a discreet section of the lower back of the scalp. The strip is typically less than 1.5 centimeters wide but can be several centimeters long, stretching along the back of the head. Once stitched up, the donor area is typically covered by the surrounding hair but will form a scar as it heals.
The strip of donor hair is then divided into tiny grafts of individual follicular units, each comprised of one to four hairs. After the grafts are prepared, your scalp will be numbed with anesthetic, then each graft is placed through a small incision. This process requires the detail-oriented placement of each graft at a specific angle and depth for a natural-looking result.
While we don’t perform FUT surgery at Balance Hair Restoration, if Dr. Malhotra determines this method would be most suitable for you, he will refer you to a trusted colleague.
Schedule Your FUE Consultation with Balance Hair Restoration Today!
Dr. Pramit Malhotra and the expert team at Balance Hair Restoration want to help you feel empowered to make decisions about your hair transplant, so they’ll take the time to answer your questions thoroughly. They are here to guide you through your hair transplant options to ensure you receive natural-looking results that you’ll love. Are you ready to learn more about FUE and FUT with Ann Arbor’s best hair restoration providers? Contact us today or call (734) 913-5100 to learn more!
