How Is FUT different from FUE?
The difference between Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) revolves around the way in which the donor hair that is used for the transplant, is taken.
For FUT, hair from the back of the scalp is harvested in a single, thin strip. It is then trimmed into individual follicular units under microscopes, with each unit measuring around 1mm in width.
Assuming there is an adequate supply of donor hair available from the patient, up to 3,000 grafts can be transplanted at one time, yielding 100 hairs per square centimeter. However, this method requires a longer healing time after surgery and leaves a large scar across the scalp, though this can be hidden by longer hair.
Alternatively, FUE uses a robotic ‘punch’ device to remove the follicular units directly from the back and sides of the scalp. This specialized punch allows hair to be removed directly from the skin without causing damage, so it is a less invasive procedure. With FUE, the scalp will heal faster and patients often show no visible signs of having had a hair transplant, just ten days after surgery.