Splitting Hairs About Hair Restoration:
Should You Select FUE or FUT?
Deciding on any surgical procedure can seem like a lot of hair-splittings. But it’s worth taking the time to address your specific needs before deciding which type of hair restoration to undergo.
Hair loss of about 100 hairs a day is considered completely normal, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. However, to the 80 million men and women in the United States dealing with hereditary hair loss, it isn’t any less irksome.
Modern-day hair restoration techniques offer a beneficial and effective solution for those looking to refresh their appearance. There are two main types of surgical hair restoration: follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit excision (FUE).
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)
Most men experiencing baldness are familiar with the donut-shaped ring of hair that lingers long after the follicles on top have withered away. A perfect solution to this problem, FUT is considered a cutting-edge alternative to the “pluggy”-looking transplants synonymous with hair restoration of yesteryear.
FUT is recommended for those who have sufficient hair at a donor site that may be transplanted to sparser areas. This “strip method” involves the extraction and transplantation of rows of follicular units – clusters of hairs, nerves, and oil glands, to areas that may be scant.
This may not be the best choice for those who prefer military-inspired haircuts or short styles, as you’ll be left with a linear scar post-operation.
Those suffering from extensive balding are wonderful candidates for the FUT method. Utilizing a stereoscopic microscope, this technique gives your surgeon access to a superior view of the individual hair follicles, allowing them to achieve maximum hair volume. According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, FUT allows for the procurement of a natural-looking hairline with reasonable density plus low follicle death and minimal downtime.
Follicular Unit Excision (FUE)
Unlike FUT, which extracts entire chunks of hair from one region to another, follicular unit excision (FUE) plucks hairs from the sides and back of the head, before implanting them individually in a new region.
It’s a welcome alternative to traditional hair transplants and has a multitude of benefits when compared to its more invasive counterpart.
In this technique, your surgeon will make tiny incisions, around 1mm each around hair follicles and extracts them, before placing them into sparser areas of the scalp. Compared with FUT, scarring is minimal with this procedure, so it’s often touted for use in younger patients, or for those whose scars don’t heal as easily.
Those who select FUE will appreciate the ability to get back to life soon after. According to one physician, the grafts “take” in a matter of days, and redness will settle down in approximately four to five days following surgery.
However, FUE isn’t without it’s caveats; because each follicle is implanted individually, this surgical procedure can be extremely time-consuming for surgeons – and harsh on your wallet. The average procedure clocks in at around eight hours and can cost more.
Additional Considerations
Consider your threshold for pain. While hair restoration techniques have become more seamless in recent years, some patients report greater inflammation following FUT (due to large strips being removed from the scalp). Don’t let discomfort be a deterrent though, as your surgeon should be able to prescribe you medications to mitigate pain in the days following your procedure.
If time is of the essence for you, both FUE and FUT procedures can be carried out as outpatient surgeries, so you won’t miss much work.
Don’t live another second worrying about hair woes; the experts at Northwest Hair Restoration offer a variety of solutions to revive subpar scalps. To schedule a consultation, call (253) 572-2949.
