Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure that moves hair follicles from a part of the body called the donor site to bald or thinning areas of the scalp. The most common techniques are FUE (follicular unit extraction) and FUT (follicular unit transplantation). In FUE, hair follicles are removed one by one from the donor site with a small punch tool. In FUT, a strip of hair-bearing skin is removed from the donor site and divided into individual hair follicles before being transplanted to the recipient site. Both techniques have their pros and cons, and it is important to discuss them with your surgeon before making a decision.

FUE

With FUE, donor hairs are taken individually from small approximately 1mm size circular punches on the back of the scalp. Density in the back of the scalp can be reduced by approximately 50% before any significant thinning is noticed. On average, patients may be able to get about 6000 total grafts over a lifetime with this method. FUE is not to be confused with hair plugs which involved large 4mm plugs of hair and resulted in an unnatural appearance. FUE is not a “scarless” procedure, however, the scars are small, round, and not very noticeable unless looked at very closely. Your head must be shaved prior to an FUE procedure.

FUT

With FUT, donor hairs are excised in a long strip at the back of the scalp and then stitched back together. The hairs are taken from the ideal target donor area meaning these are generally life long hairs at very low risk of miniaturizing. With large FUE cases, many times hairs must be taken from outside the ideal donor area and may miniaturize over time. The hairs are carefully dissected apart by staff. While this technique does leave a linear scar, it is typically not very noticeable and effectively invisible in anyone with long hair. Your head does not need to be shaved prior to an FUT procedure.

What is better, FUE or FUT?

Both techniques have their pros and cons. If you have significant hair loss and need the maximum number of hairs possible, a combination approach with 1 or 2 FUT procedures followed by subsequent FUE produces the maximum number of grafts. If you are a female patient and do not want to shave your head or a male patient with long hair and do not want to shave your head, FUT would be the preferred procedure. If you fear a linear scar and have only mild/moderate hair loss, FUE is a reasonable choice. Your surgeon should be able to perform and counsel you on both techniques. If they do not, it is important to get a second opinion. FUE is not “more modern” or better. Comparing these techniques is like comparing apples and oranges.

What to expect in from a hair transplant consultation?

At your consultation your surgeon should assess the extent of your hair loss and guide on anticipated further loss. It is critical you understand how your hair will change over time and create a long term plan. Your surgeon should explain the risks/benefits of both types of procedures (FUE and FUT) with respect to how you wear your hair and your anticipated lifetime need of grafts. While many patients are bothered by the strip scar in FUT, for patients that wear hair long, the scar is completely hidden as opposed to someone who likes to wear their hair shaved. For a patient with extensive hair loss, the maximum number of lifetime grafts can be achieved by first having a strip procedure (FUT) followed by FUE for subsequent procedures in contrast to having multiple FUE procedures.

Are hair transplants permanent?

The donor hair follicles are generally taken from the safe donor area which do not miniaturize over time and are considered permanent; however, you will continue to lose existing hair outside of the safe donor area. In large FUE procedures, grafts may need to be taken from outside the safe donor area and are at risk of miniaturizing.

Are hair transplants painful?

Hair transplants are usually performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area. The hair follicles are then removed from the donor site and transplanted to the recipient site. This process can take several hours, and you may need more than one surgery to get the desired results. The initial numbing process is painful, but the rest of the procedure is relatively painless.

Risks of hair transplantation

Risks of hair transplant surgery include bleeding, infection, and scarring. The surgery can also be quite expensive, so it is important to discuss costs with your surgeon before you undergo the procedure.

Overall, hair transplant surgery is a safe and effective way to achieve hair growth in bald or thinning areas of the scalp. However, like all surgeries, there are some risks involved. Be sure to discuss these risks with your surgeon before you undergo the procedure.

Costs of hair transplant surgery

Hair transplant surgery can be quite expensive, depending on the number of grafts you need. The average cost of hair transplant surgery is between $4,000 and $15,000. However, costs can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of procedure you have, the number of grafts you need, and the experience of your surgeon. Be sure to discuss costs with your surgeon before you undergo the procedure.

Summary

Hair transplant surgery is a safe and effective way to achieve hair growth in bald or thinning areas of the scalp. However, like all surgeries, there are some risks involved. Be sure to discuss these risks with your surgeon before you undergo