FUE Technique

Understanding Hair Transplant Techniques

There are two surgical techniques in which hair can be removed from a patient’s scalp – Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The way that grafts are transplanted back into a patient’s scalp following their removal is the same with both techniques. It is how the hairs are removed that is different. In the case of the FUE technique each hair graft is removed from the donor region one by one using a punch tool. With the FUT technique a strip of hair bearing skin is removed from the donor region and is closed with a suture.

Scaring

Both the FUT and FUE technique form scars – FUT forms one linear scar whereas FUE forms multiple circular scars spread across a large area. The area of scarring in an FUE procedure is in fact larger than in an FUT procedure, however as the scars are generally more spread out the scars following an FUE procedure can be less noticeable in shorter hair. See gallery for examples of donor scars.

FUE Hair Transplants

When undergoing a FUE procedure, the entire scalp must usually be shaved in advance. As the FUE technique only allows a surgeon to take every second hair graft from the donor zone, the yield of grafts from the area is usually lower. Many clinics may therefore go outside of this zone which means these transplanted hairs may become thin and may be lost as a patient becomes older and the hair loss process continues. It can also result in circular scars in the donor region becoming visible over time. The team at HRBR are careful to select the correct donor area to reduce the likelihood of this occurring in our FUE patients. The survival rate of grafts in an FUE transplant is usually considered lower than it is with FUT as the accuracy of the punch tool is lower than that of a technician using a microscope.

Benefits of FUE Method of Hair Transplant Surgery

For patients who like to wear their hair very short the FUE method is often advised as the resultant scars can be less noticeable and more spread out following surgery in short hair.

FUT and FUE

At HRBR we offer both FUT and FUE hair transplants. A hair transplant surgeon should always assess the patient’s individual needs and advise on the best hair transplant technique for each individual case. At HRBR we generally favour the FUT technique for larger hair transplants as the results are generally superior. At a later stage, should a patient decide to have a second or third hair transplant, a skilled surgeon can go back and remove the linear scar from the first FUT procedure. This means that the patient will only have one scar, which is not possible with the FUE method.

For many patients who wish to maximise the number of hair grafts that can be taken from the donor area often a combination of both techniques is recommended. This is why attending a clinic with the ability to carry out both techniques is recommended to ensure all options are provided to you.

FUT and FUE Hair Transplants at HRBR

If you are suffering from hair loss and would like to discuss possible treatment options please contact us to request a consultation.

To read more about hair loss in men visit the ISHRS website.

Post Updated: November 2024