Hair loss is a prevalent cosmetic issue worldwide. According to recent statistics, almost 85% of men and 33% of women suffer from hair loss at some point in their lives. Hair transplant procedures have provided a much-needed respite to hair loss sufferers. Hair transplant procedures are among widespread procedures conducted globally.
What Is a Hair Transplant?
Hair transplant is a procedure conducted to combat hair loss problems such as male pattern baldness. It is a process by which hair follicles are harvested from a donor site and implanted at a recipient location to augment the number of hair follicles.
There has been a 10% increase in hair transplant surgeries since 2016, with men (87.3%) undergoing the bulk of the procedures.
What Are The Types of Hair Transplants?
The types of hair transplant procedures available to potential candidates vary from person to person. However, the two basic forms of hair transplants are:
- FUT
- FUE
FUT Hair Transplantation
FUT is also known as “Follicular Unit Transplantation”. Out of all the hair transplant procedures performed, 31.5% are FUT hair transplants. The procedure involves harvesting a strip of skin with hair follicles from a part of the body with adequate hair density and implanting it at the donor site. Doctors use sutures or staples to approximate the wounds.
The dimensions of the linear graft are approximately 0.5 – 1.5 cm wide and 5 – 30 cm long and it is usually harvested from the back of the patient’s head.
FUE Hair Transplantation
FUE is short for Follicular Unit Extraction. It is a new and improved take on the FUT hair transplantation. The term “unit” in the name of the procedure stands for follicular units (clusters of hair follicles approximately 1 – 4 hairs). Rather than harvesting a whole strip of tissue from the donor site, in FUE transplant surgeons harvest follicular units.
These follicular units are then implanted at the donor site (site of balding or patchy hair growth). Out of all the hair transplant procedures performed globally, the FUE share is approximately 66.2% according to the statistics.
The Differences Between FUT and FUE Hair Transplants
Both of the hair transplant procedures are in practice today. The two procedures share several similarities but are not the same. There are some fundamental issues between FUT and FUE difference. These include:
Procedure
FUT requires taking a wide strip of hair-rich tissue from the back of the head. The whole strip or graft is then implanted at the donor site. The surgeon can transport a great number of hair follicles at once. Besides this, shaving the head is not necessary either. An FUT hair transplant is more cost-effective and less time-consuming than an FUE hair procedure.
An FUE Hair transplant involves harvesting follicular units (1-4 hair follicles) and implanting them individually at the donor site with the help of a micro punch device. The post-surgical scarring is less obvious in FUE and candidates can indulge in close-cropped hair styles. Considering FUT vs FUE hair transplant, the recovery period of FUE is faster than FUT hair transplant.
Recovery
Hair transplantation surgery recovery duration is an area of interest for many potential candidates. Between FUT and FUE, the recovery period for a unit transplant is longer because the surgical wounds at the donor site are sutured/stapled. This prolongs the healing process.
Postoperative Scarring
Postoperative scarring is a key difference between FUT and FUE hair transplants. The extraction of a whole strip of tissue means that the potential for postsurgical scarring is higher in FUT. Scarring after FUE constitutes minute, dot-like scars that are easy to camouflage in the hairline.
Suitable Candidates
Due to the specific nature of the two hair transplants, FUT is better suited to those with significant hair loss. FUE is the procedure of choice for the localized and patchy decrease in hair density.
Prognosis
There is not much difference in terms of graft survival and the quality of the transplant results. However, due to the lesser potential for trauma to the grafts, FUT has a slightly higher follicular survival rate,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are FUT and FUE ideal for all hair types?
Yes, both procedures are ideal for all hair types.
Which procedure gives a more natural outcome?
The aesthetic outcome depends more on surgical skills than the choice of the hair transplant procedure.
Is FUT more painful than FUE?
Due to the larger incision size and the use of sutures, FUT is more painful than FUE postoperatively.
