In the world of hair transplant surgery, the two most advanced technologies with the highest success rates are Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT), also known as Linear Strip Excision (LSE), and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The two are often confused due to the similarities in both their names and the way the procedures are performed. In reality, the differences are significant, and each has its place depending on the treatment plan adopted and the patient’s needs.
Both procedures extract hair follicles and relocate them to areas of hair thinning or hair loss. The methodologies, however, are quite different. In FUT hair transplant surgery, small strips of scalp are removed and transplanted along with their follicles. A FUE hair transplant collects individual follicles and transplants them in small groups. Let’s compare:
The advantages of FUE:
The advantages of FUT
When trying to choose between FUE and FUT, there are a handful of factors that should be considered. Those with minimal hair loss often choose FUE because of its extremely natural looking results. The minimal scarring of FUE makes it more suitable for short hairstyles where there is less hair to conceal the scars.
FUT can implement a larger number of grafts per session and is often chosen in cases of extensive baldness. Where FUT requires a certain degree of scalp elasticity in order to harvest the donor strip without tension causing issues, this is not a factor in FUE procedures. FUE surgeries heal more rapidly, while FUT procedures require more downtime for recovery.
The success rates of both transplant methodologies can be affected by a number of factors – primarily the skill of the surgeon, the quality of the donor hair, and current state of the patient’s health. Both procedures boast high success rates, with some studies showing up to 90-95% success for FUE and ranging from 85-95% for FUT. Despite the slightly lower success rate, FUT does allow for a greater number of grafts per session, making it ideal for those who desire more extensive coverage from each session.
Since no large incisions are involved in FUE hair transplantation, in most cases it only takes about a week to recover. The recovery time for FUT surgeries involves a bit more discomfort and usually involves about two weeks of recovery time.
Both approaches work well for a wide variety of hair types. In general, it is one’s preferred hairstyle and the amount of hair loss that are the deciding factors. In cases of moderate or minimal hair loss FUE is usually the better choice. This is also true for those who prefer shorter hairstyles as the minimal scarring is less visible. FUT is often chosen by those suffering extensive hair loss since more grafts can be implemented in each procedure. For more information or to schedule a consultation to determine which procedure is right for your needs, contact us today.
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