More and more balding people are opting for a hair transplant. The FUE hair transplant in particular is increasing in popularity. There is enormous hype going on about this phenomenon on the internet. But this hype is accompanied by confusion, because what exactly is a FUE hair transplant? What are the different options for a hair transplant at all?
Basically there are two options: the FUT and the FUE method. In this blog, I’ll explain the major differences between the two, as well as the pros and cons. That way you know which method suits you best!
FUT
FUT stands for Follicular Unit Transplantation, but is also called Strip Method Harvesting. The FUT method has been practiced for decades and has very consistent results. The treatment removes a strip of scalp from a donor region and reapplies it to another area on your head. The strips are approximately 1-3mm wide. These lines will remain somewhat visible on the scalp, so it is recommended to grow your hair at least to 4cm to properly camouflage it. In some patients, the operation works out so well that it can be as much as 2cm. With a length of 1 cm the scars are almost always visible. It is a low risk method. 99% of patients heal very well. FUT is cheaper than the FUE method because it is less time consuming for the surgeon.
FUE
FUE hair transplantation is a more recently developed method. FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction. As the name implies, this method removes individual hair follicles from the scalp and reposition them elsewhere. When performed by an experienced surgeon, the results are just as good as with the FUT method. Sometimes the result is even better than with FUT, as the surgeon can be more selective about which hair follicles to pick as a donor. He can select the hair follicles with the most hair per bag, so that you end up with a fuller head of hair than an average strip of the FUT method. The FUE method is also usually less intensive for the patient: only small holes are punctured in the scalp and no strips are removed. However, the work is more intensive for the surgeon and the treatment also takes longer.
Both the FUT and FUE method are good working options. It is important to know the pros and cons of both options so that you can make an informed choice. Therefore, choose a doctor who could perform both methods, so that he is not biased in his recommendation to you.
