Important Difference between FUE and FUT
The two types of hair transplants available today include Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT). Both of these procedures include similar preparatory steps. But how the surgeon proceeds and the process of transplantation vary from there. Below, learn more about FUE and FUT and which procedure fits your type of hair loss, lifestyle and hair transplant needs most.
How are FUE and FUT alike?
As said before, FUE and FUT procedures start in the same manner. The surgeon or surgical assistant first thoroughly cleans your scalp. After cleaning the surgical site, they inject local anesthesia to numb this region. After the numbing injection takes effect, your surgeon starts the graft removal and transplant process. This is where the two types of surgeries differ.
About the FUE Surgery
Follicular Unit Extraction involves extraction of individual hair follicles. The surgeon takes these grafts from the donor area of your scalp. The donor area is where healthy hair grows and the graft removal will not visibly change your appearance.
To transplant the graft follicles, your surgeon uses a needle or thin blade. Of course, you do not feel any pain or discomfort. Using the surgical instruments, he makes tiny holes in the area of your scalp where you need better hair coverage. He then places the donor follicles into the holes. The length of your surgery depends on how many follicles your surgeon transplants.
As with FUT, the procedure ends with your scalp being covered with bandages or gauze. You wear these for several days after surgery.
About the FUT Procedure
As for FUE, the Follicular Unit Transplant surgery starts with cleaning and numbing your scalp. When the anesthesia takes effect, your surgeon removes a strip of skin with healthy follicles and hair production. This donor strip usually comes from the back of your head. You can expect an incision measuring several inches in length. The resulting scar is not usually noticeable when you allow your hair to grow around it.
After securing the donor strip of scalp, your surgeon divides it into two sections. He transplants these strips where you need better hair growth. After placing the strips, he stitches up your incision site. As with FUE, you wear gauze or a bandage on your scalp for several days after surgery.
Advantages of Each Type of Hair Transplant Surgery
Your hair transplant surgeon helps you understand which type of procedure best suits your hair regrowth needs. Each has its own advantages.
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) advantages include:
- No linear scar. As part of your surgery, you only experience tiny incisions. This means your scars are hardly visible to anyone around you.
- Quicker return to your daily routine. With only tiny incisions and scarring, you more quickly return to your more rigorous activities, such as going to the gym.
- You can wear short haircuts. Because any scarring is very small and almost invisible to the naked eye, you can wear short hair styles without anyone knowing about your hair transplant surgery.
- Greater flexibility in the number of grafts. Your surgeon can choose to transplant even only a small number of grafts, such as for a receding hairline.
- Easier healing period. You feel little discomfort and enjoy a shorter healing period than with FUT.
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) advantages include:
- Ability to transplant many grafts at once. If you have a wider expanse of hair loss, your surgeon uses FUT to provide greater coverage in one procedure.
- Maximum fullness for your new growth. Because the donor scalp involves normal follicular density, you experience fuller regrowth.
- Shorter surgical time. Because the donor retrieval and transplant do not require the more labor intensive method of placing single follicles, your surgery is much shorter.
- Lower cost. Also because the surgery is less intensive than FUE, it costs less for broad areas of transplantation.
Of course, many factors determine a hair transplant surgery’s cost. Whether one type of procedure fits your individual needs and budget best depends on your type of hair loss and surgical expectations. Most procedures take four to 12 hours for completion, with FUE typically taking longer. Your surgeon checks your healing and the results at about ten days after the transplant, also removing your stitches.
Which type of hair transplant surgery is right for me?
To find out whether FUE or FUT fits your needs best, schedule your hair loss consultation with AZ Hair Restoration today. You can also learn more about other types of hair restoration methods as part of this appointment. Patients conveniently meet with Dr. Zacco in person or through a video call.
For scheduling in the Apex, North Carolina office, call (919) 830-3778 today. To schedule an appointment with the Raleigh office, call (919) 615-0577.
