Follicular Unit Transplantation, or FUT, is one of two common surgical procedures used to treat hair loss, especially Male Pattern Hair Loss (MPHL). The other, Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), is a more recent procedure that will be discussed in more detail in a future blog.
FUT is often also called the “strip procedure.” This is because the basic distinction of the process is the simultaneous removal of multiple hair follicles at a time from a donor area to (usually) the balding scalp.
The “strip” is more accurately called a follicular unit, which is between 1 and 4 hair follicles. The reason this form of transplantation is so effective is that while it transplants the hair follicles, it also includes the elements of healthy hair that surround the follicular unit as well.
This includes the natural oil glands, muscle, and sometimes fine hairs called vellus hairs. Because this entire unit is transplanted, the healthy growth of the new hair is reinforced because it’s not just the hair follicle itself being transplanted. The muscle, oil glands, and other elements transplanted all encourage the natural growth of the hair follicles as if they were still in their original location.
What Are The Benefits Of Follicular Unit Transplantation?
FUT is a massive improvement over older forms of hair transplantation. The old stereotypes about “hair plugs” looking unnatural don’t apply to FUT. Because the process includes a specialist surgeon transplanting with the result in mind, the results of a successful FUT procedure are indistinguishable from natural hair growth.
This procedure also has the benefit of removing the whole unit of hair follicles from the donor site, which means that scarring is much less likely. And when it does occur it is less likely to be noticeable because of the way the procedure is performed.
The procedure itself gets its nickname from the fact that the surgeon removes a whole strip of hair at once, usually from the back of the head. The next step involves a procedure called stereo-microscopic dissection in order to ensure the follicular units are extracted properly.
This strip not only leaves less chances of scarring, but is also easier to take care of after a procedure.
How Much Hair Can Be Transplanted In An FUT Session?
Perhaps the most unique element of Follicular Unit Transplantation is the large amount of transplantation that can be done in a single session.
By removing strips of hair follicles and completing the transfer of follicular units from those strips, many such units can be prepared and transplanted easily all in rapid succession. This allows the surgeon to prepare multiple transplants for placement as well.
This rapid process, and the fact that it requires fewer surgical incisions, means that someone receiving this treatment is able to recover more quickly and get back to their normal lifestyle in short order.
Overall, an FUT session can complete the transplantation of about 4,000 grafts in a single session. That’s quite a lot! While this might be enough for many people, it is possible that a second or third session might be necessary, depending on the level and scope of the hair loss being restored.
Is FUT Right For Me?
The only way to know what is right for you is to schedule a consultation with a specialist in hair restoration, like Dr. Joseph Williams of Advanced Medical Hair Institute. Once you have met with your specialist, you can plan for the procedure that is best for your needs. It’s important to remember that these specialists have many tools at their disposal, and while FUT is a major one, it is not the only option for hair restoration treatment!
