What is the difference between FUE and FUT?

Which Method Is Right For Your Hair Type?

Although the results of a hair transplant depends on your hair structure to some extent, any type of hair can benefit from hair transplant, so either technique can be used whatever hair type you have.

However, the FUE technique is superior, because it is much less invasive and can achieve more natural hair restoration.

One of the most important factors that will help you get the best outcome from the procedure is the hair density and quality in your donor region where grafts are harvested.

People usually think that factors like the thickness of hair strands, hair type, and the shape of hair are the same thing as hair density because these can give an illusion of density to your hair.

We strongly recommend a detailed hair analysis before surgery so that you can set realistic expectations.

What is FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) Method?

The FUT technique is more invasive and complicated than the FUE. Also known as strip harvesting, FUT is simply based on the principle of excising a strip of tissue containing hair follicles from the back of the head.

In order to extract hair follicles, a thick donor strip about 1 to 1.5 cm in width and 10 to 20-25 cm in length is removed from the scalp with a scalpel that penetrates the dermis.

After the donor strip is extracted and placed under the microscope, the hair follicular units are separated with a scalpel.

After this stage, the hair follicles are transplanted to the recipient area.

FUT is usually preferred in cases of advanced hair loss. As the donor strip is excised and then the wound in the donor site is closed with sutures and stitching, it is considered a major surgical intervention.

One advantage of the FUT method is the layer of fat holding the hair follicles removed from the strip is larger. The fat layer surrounding the hair follicle has been reported to increase the follicle survival, as it will keep the follicle moisturized for a longer time.

However, the latest technological devices and advanced techniques have enabled the FUE method to make use of the same advantage.

What is FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) Method?

The hair follicles in the human scalp differ from those found in other regions of the body in that they exhibit a different dermal composition.

In other parts of the body, each follicle produces just one hair strand, but because of this feature, the hair follicles in the scalp can produce up to 4 hair strands.

These groups of hair follicles containing multiple hair strands exhibit a random distribution over the scalp.

However, the frontal hairline usually contains follicles with a single hair strand, which is a key point that should be taken into account to achieve a natural appearance after the hair transplant.

FUE technique selects and harvests the most efficient of these follicles and transplants them to the recipient area without the need to excise a tissue strip from the scalp.

What are the differences between FUT and FUE techniques?

Recovery times:

• Following the FUT procedure, it takes at least two weeks for the wound to heal.
• Following the FUE procedure, the wounds (less than 1 mm) will heal within 2-3 days. Short recovery time allows people to get back to work as soon as possible.

Scarring:

• The traditional FUT method leaves a permanent linear scar on the back of the head. You may have to use longer hairstyles to conceal the scar.
• The modern FUE method leaves only miniscule scars that are too small to be noticed even when you have short hair.

Quality of the grafts:

• FUE method allows the doctor to discard low-quality donor follicles unsuitable for transplant, while in FUT method the excised hair strip is transplanted as one piece, so it may include low-quality grafts.

Suitable Candidates:

FUE technique can be used for a wider audience, as people who can benefit from the FUT method are only limited to those with good scalp flexibility and experiencing hair loss at advanced stages.

FUE hair transplant can also achieve most satisfactory results in the following cases:

• In women experiencing hair thinning in certain areas of head, particularly in forehead and temple areas, or hair loss on the crown due to aging or genetic factors.
• In burns and injuries on the scalp
• In people with good scalp flexibility and high density of follicles suitable for transplanting despite the advanced stage of hair loss
• In people working to a tight schedule and sportspeople who must get back to training as soon as possible
• In young people with limited hair loss who prefer short hair
• In cases of thinning of facial hair such as beard, mustache, or eyebrows.