What is FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) ?
Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a modern, minimally invasive hair transplant technique used to treat hair loss. It involves harvesting individual follicular units, natural groupings of 1-4 hairs, directly from the donor area using a specialised micro-punch tool.
These grafts are then meticulously implanted into thinning or bald areas. Its key advantage is the absence of a linear scar, offering a more natural-looking result and quicker recovery compared to traditional methods. This precision allows doctors to restore hair density while preserving the appearance of the donor site.
What is FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)?
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), often called the ‘strip method’, is a surgical hair restoration technique where a doctor removes a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the donor area, typically the back or sides of the head. This strip is then meticulously dissected under high-powered microscopes into individual follicular units (grafts). These grafts are finally implanted into the balding or thinning areas of the scalp. While it characteristically leaves a fine linear scar, FUT is renowned for its ability to yield a large number of high-quality grafts in a single session, making it a powerful option for treating extensive hair loss.
What’s the difference between FUE and FUT?
The primary difference between FUE and FUT is the graft harvesting method. FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) extracts individual follicular units one by one from the donor area, leaving tiny, scattered dot scars that are virtually undetectable with most hairstyles. In contrast, FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) involves surgically removing a linear strip of scalp from the donor area, which results in a single, fine linear scar. While the final hair growth can be identical, the type of scarring fundamentally dictates your future hairstyle flexibility.
FUE Vs FUT Hair Transplant Illustration
The FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) Method
In an FUE hair transplant, the doctor uses a specialised micro-punch tool, typically less than 1mm in diameter, to individually extract each follicular unit (a naturally occurring group of 1-4 hairs) directly from the scalp.
Process:
The doctor and their team meticulously select and remove hundreds or thousands of these units one by one. There are no scalpels or stitches required in the donor area.
Result:
This technique leaves behind a pattern of tiny, circular dot scars. When healed, these are extremely small and scattered throughout the donor area, making them very difficult to see, even with very short hair.
Best For:
Patients who want the option to wear their hair very short (e.g., a grade 1 or 2 buzz cut) without a visible scar. It is also ideal for minor procedures or for patients who have a tight scalp.
The FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) Method
Often referred to as ‘strip surgery’, the FUT hair transplant is the more traditional method. It involves the surgical removal of a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the donor area.
Process:
A doctor uses a scalpel to excise the strip. The wound is then closed with sutures or staples, which are typically removed after 10-14 days. The harvested strip is then passed to a team of technicians who meticulously dissect it under high-powered microscopes to separate it into individual follicular units for implantation.
Result:
This technique leaves a single, fine linear scar across the donor area. The scar’s visibility depends heavily on the doctor’s skill in creating the incision and performing the closure (e.g., using a trichophytic closure, which allows hair to grow through the scar).
Best For:
Patients who require a large number of grafts in a single session to treat advanced hair loss. It can also be more cost-effective per graft and is suitable for patients who are happy to wear their hair long enough (typically a grade 4 or longer) to conceal the linear scar.
FUT Hair Transplant Process
The Critical Difference: Scarring, Recovery, and Your Final Look
The choice between FUE and FUT has significant implications for your recovery and long-term aesthetic. The “final look” isn’t just about the hair on top of your head; it’s about the entire scalp and the freedom of choice you have afterwards.
