Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) VS Follicle Unit Extraction (FUE).
Until the early 1990s, Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) was the only surgical option for hair restoration. This traditional method of hair restoration is also known as the ‘Strip Method’ as a linear strip of hair (with skin attached) is removed from the back of the scalp and then separated into individual grafts containing small groups of hair for transplanting to bald areas.
The procedure is still regularly performed but many, particularly men who prefer short hairstyles, avoid it as it leaves a horizontal scar (15-30cm long) at the back of the head.
Performed under local anaesthetic, FUE is rapidly becoming the most popular hair transplantation technique as it is performed under local anaesthetic and delivers natural results.
During FUE, tiny follicular units (each less than 1mm in diameter) containing 1 to 4 hairs are harvested from the donor site and then transplanted to balding areas.
One of FUE’s main advantages over the ‘Strip Method’ is the fact that it doesn’t leave a visible scar as the harvesting process only leaves small, puncture marks which virtually disappear after healing.
In recent times FUE has become even more popular in Australia due to the arrival of the FDA-approved NeoGraft robotic surgical device which further improves the speed and efficacy of the procedure by semi-automatically extracting the individual hair follicles (and therefore eliminating all the inefficiencies of manual extractions).
I believe FUE is the Gold Standard in hair transplantation. It is therefore the only surgical technique I use on my hair loss patients.
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