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The Difference Between FUT And FUE
10 / 15 / 15
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Hair Transplant

Surgical Hair Restoration: The Difference Between FUT And FUE

Two surgical treatments can successfully restore your hair to its natural appearance and reverse the signs of hair loss: follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE). The two procedures appear similar, but they differ in important ways. If you are interested in surgical hair restoration, read the following information about FUT and FUE and schedule a consultation with your doctor.

Follicular Unit Transplant

FUT is also called strip harvesting, because a strip of hair is taken from the donor site and used to transplant individual hairs into areas of hair loss. The donor site is an area of the scalp that is most resistant to hair loss, such as the base or lower sides of the skull. These regions are more unaffected by DHT (dihydrotestoterone), a hormone that shortens the growing phase of sensistized hair follicles and causes the hair to become vellus or thinner.

The Procedure

  1. Local anesthesia to the scalp creates the most comfortable experience possible
  2. The donor strip is taken from the scalp
  3. Under a microscope, the individual follicular units are dissected from the strip
  4. Tiny incisions in the scalp are made for the recipient sites using a fine needle-point instrument
  5. Individual follicular units are placed into the recipient sites

FUT produces natural results, as the surgery is extremely precise.

Follicular Unit Extraction

While FUT involves taking a strip of hair, during FUE your doctor will harvest follicles directly from the donor site one at a time through tiny, circular punch incisions. FUE leaves less of a noticeable scar than FUT, however it requires a much larger donor area.

The Procedure

  1. Local anesthesia ensures a comfortable experience
  2. Small, circular punch incisions are made around a follicular unit in the donor area
  3. The unit is extracted, leaving a microscopic hole in the scalp
  4. Tiny incisions are made in the recipient site with a fine blade
  5. Individual follicular units are placed into the area of hair loss

Like FUT, FUE produces natural and precise results. Contact Dr. Gray today to discuss your options for hair restoration surgery.