According to a study, up to 85% of males and 40% of females are affected by hair loss. Although there are numerous causes associated with hair loss, the most common one is androgenetic alopecia, a condition induced by genetics or a family history of baldness. Depending on the source of hair loss, there will be topical solutions and medications available to treat hair loss. However, for more lasting results, especially in patients suffering from significant hair loss, surgical hair transplant procedures like FUE and FUT are preferred.
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) are two of the most favored hair transplant procedures with a high success rate. To understand which of these techniques is best suited for you, the following guide will help you learn more about both the procedures and make an informed decision.
FUE Hair Transplant
In FUE, the surgeon harvests individual follicular units from the donor area, usually the back of the head, through minute circular incisions. These individual follicles are then transplanted into the portion of the scalp with thinning hair or baldness. This procedure is minimally invasive, leaving only tiny incision marks that eventually heal and get concealed by your new hair.
FUE transplant can be either manual or robotic. In manual FUE, the individual hair follicles are extracted by a surgeon using a handheld device. On the other hand, Robotic FUE is performed by a robotic hair restoration device guided by the surgeon, using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Advantages of FUE:
- Unparalleled quality: Since a robotic device can also perform the FUE procedure, the precision and accuracy of this process are exceptional. Furthermore, the robotic system can scan your scalp and find healthy areas to extract the follicular grafts from, ensuring optimum results.
- Painless procedure: Since the procedure is performed under local anesthesia and is minimally invasive, there is minimal pain and discomfort.
- Quick recovery process: As FUE does not require any skin grafting or stitches, the recovery time is short. Most patients are able to resume their routine activities within a couple of days after their surgery.
- Minimal scarring: FUE scars are minute and circular, scattered throughout the donor area. Since these scars are very tiny, they are barely noticeable and will eventually be covered by your existing hair.
Who is an ideal candidate for FUE?
FUE is ideal for patients with short hair and requires relatively smaller hair transplants. It is suitable for younger patients or patients who are in the earlier stages of hair loss.
FUT Hair Transplant
In FUT, the surgeon extracts a linear strip of the scalp from the donor area. This strip is then dissected into as many as 500 to 2,000 follicular grafts, which are inserted into tiny incisions made on the recipient area. Unlike FUE, FUT leaves a long linear scar in the donor area. However, it is barely noticeable, as the scar will be covered up by the existing hair.
Advantages of FUT
- Yields a larger number of grafts: FUT is good for patients suffering from advanced hair loss and baldness and are looking to cover a large portion of the scalp.
- No need to shave: The FUT technique does not require extensive shaving of the donor area. This ensures there is no major difference in the patient’s appearance post-surgery.
- Minimal scarring: The FUT technique leaves just one long scar, which can be easily concealed under the existing hair in the donor area.
- High density of hair: Since FUT involves transplanting follicular grafts comprising 1-4 strands of hair in each graft, it can yield fuller and more natural-looking results.
Who is an ideal candidate for FUT?
FUT technique is ideal for patients who wear longer hairstyles or patients who require several grafts to cover a significant balding portion.
FUE Vs. FUT – Hair Transplant Cost
The average cost of a hair transplant procedure ranges between $4000 and $15,000. The cost will depend on an array of factors, including the number of grafts needed, the transplant technique you choose, the location of the practice, and so on. It is worth noting that the FUT technique is cheaper than FUE since the FUE technique is more time-consuming, as each individual hair follicle needs to be transplanted graft-by-graft.
Our expert professionals at the New Jersey Hair Restoration Center can customize a treatment plan that fits your goals and budget.
