Our Treatments
FUT – Hair Transplant Technique: Overview
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), also known as the strip method, is one of the most widely practiced and effective techniques for hair restoration. This method has been a cornerstone in the field of hair transplantation due to its ability to deliver natural-looking results with minimal risk of scarring in the donor area. Understanding the process, benefits, and considerations of the FUT hair transplant technique can help potential patients make informed decisions about their hair restoration journey.
What Is FUT Hair Transplantation?
FUT involves the removal of a thin strip of scalp from the donor area, typically from the back or sides of the head where hair is genetically resistant to balding. This area is carefully chosen because the hair in this region usually continues to grow throughout a person’s life, even in those with male pattern baldness. Once the strip is removed, the surgeon and their team meticulously dissect it under a microscope into individual follicular units. Each follicular unit typically contains one to four hairs. These units are then carefully implanted into the thinning or balding areas of the scalp, where they will grow naturally over time.
The FUT Procedure: Step by Step
- Preparation and Anesthesia: The procedure begins with the patient being prepped and the donor area shaved or trimmed. Local anesthesia is then administered to numb both the donor and recipient areas, ensuring the patient’s comfort throughout the surgery.
- Donor Strip Removal: A thin strip of skin containing hair follicles is surgically removed from the donor area. The size of the strip varies depending on the number of grafts required but generally measures about 1 to 1.5 cm in width and several inches in length.
- Dissection of Follicular Units: The donor strip is immediately handed over to a team of technicians who dissect it into individual follicular units under a high-powered microscope. This step is crucial for ensuring the viability and integrity of the hair follicles, which will later be transplanted.
- Closure of Donor Area: The incision in the donor area is then closed using sutures or staples. The technique used to close the incision leaves a linear scar, but this is usually very thin and can be easily concealed by surrounding hair.
- Recipient Site Creation: The surgeon then makes tiny incisions in the balding or thinning areas of the scalp, carefully considering the natural hair growth pattern, direction, and density. These sites will host the follicular units.
- Transplantation of Follicular Units: The individual follicular units are then meticulously placed into the recipient sites. The surgeon ensures that each unit is positioned to mimic the natural growth of the patient’s hair, which is crucial for achieving a natural-looking result.
- Post-Procedure Care: After the procedure, the patient is provided with detailed post-operative instructions. This includes guidance on how to care for the donor and recipient areas, medications to manage discomfort or swelling, and advice on when to resume normal activities.
At UK Hair Transplants (UKHT) Clinic, we specialize in the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) technique, which we prefer for its precision and effectiveness. FUE is a minimally invasive method that involves extracting individual hair follicles from the donor area and transplanting them to thinning or balding areas. This technique offers natural-looking results with minimal scarring and a quicker recovery time compared to traditional methods. Our highly skilled surgeons at UKHT are experts in FUE, ensuring that each procedure is tailored to meet the unique needs of our patients, providing them with the best possible outcome.
