FUT Hair Transplants: A Comprehensive Guide to Follicular Unit Transplantation
Male Pattern Baldness is the common concern for both men and women all over the world. Many people are worried about it and the reason is that there are about 50 million men in the US are suffering from it. Contrary to what most people think, aging does not only affect a person’s skin and body composition, it also changes the state and health of hair. People of both genders in their late 30s and above are known to experience thinning hair or baldness due to a variety of reasons such as, but not limited to, genetics, hormonal changes, aging, and certain medical conditions. In order to treat this, a one-time hair surgery has become a likely alternative, and by following the following steps, a man can achieve a permanent and natural-looking hair restoration. The FUT hair transplant is among the oldest hair transplant methods in the industry that is still in use, replacing it with another known one. It was a great breakthrough for hair restoration surgery and it still is, typically the most selected procedure suited for patients with severe hair loss. The current article discusses the ins and outs of flawless follicular transplants, the use of the technique, and the benefits and risks of the procedure as well as the recovery period, the outcome, and the need for a new method like FUE.
FUT stands for Follicular Unit Transplantation, which is a technique for hair restoration that is carried out by a surgeon by removing a strip of scalp tissue from the back of the patient’s head or the side areas where the hair is unlikely to be lost. It was also found that these new strips are divided into smaller units, each by using a microscope. The follicular units containing the hairs are then implanted by a medical professional into the bald area. The method first emerged in the 1990s and ever since then, it had been widely accepted as a means of increasing hair density and guaranteed of giving natural-looking hair.
First of all, the FUT process involves an in-depth consultation with a hair transplant surgeon. At this meeting, the doctor looks at the patient’s hair loss pattern, donor hair quality, and the overall scalp health. The patient’s medical history is examined, and the level of expectation is defined. If the patient is found to be a proper candidate for the operation, then the surgery will be planned very carefully, starting from the point of designing a hairline that looks natural and suits the patient’s face. This is the most essential part as it decides the aesthetic success of the hair transplant.
Anyway, the surgery day is here, and the donor area, which is mainly the occipital scalp, is shaved off and disinfected, and the local anesthesia is applied to prevent any discomfort. The doctor then cuts out a thin strip of the scalp, about six to ten inches long and one to one point five inches wide. The area is then stitched or stapled, with the scar linear and normally covered by hair around it. Then a group of highly skilled technicians get the strip and dissect it into hundreds or thousands of individual grafts using a high-powered microscope. This stage is explicit to make sure that each follicular unit is kept undamaged and is still able to grow if transplanted.
At the same time, the recipient area is numbed with local anesthesia, and the surgeon then goes ahead and makes tiny incisions in the scalp. These incisions are placed in certain angles and directions to match the natural growth pattern of the hair, and that is vital in order to get a realistic result. The dissected follicular units are then placed into those openings very carefully. The number and the position of the grafts are changed to fit the patient’s requirements and the surgeon’s aesthetic considerations, the hairline, and the crown are particularly paid attention to.
There are a number of benefits associated with choosing the FUT method. The first signal advantage is the extraction of a large number of grafts. Given that the FUT method enables the surgeon to harvest a large number of grafts in one day, this is particularly beneficial for patients with a lot of hair loss. Typically, the cost per graft is less than that of FUE or other methods, so it is more affordable and a preferable choice for patients in need of a wide coverage. Also, it is the method of choice for those seeking consistent, natural-looking results over the years, especially in areas of the scalp that have been a challenge to cover with just a few grafts.
The FUT method is often compared to another popular method known as FUE, which stands for Follicular Unit Extraction. The inevitable difference between the two is in how the donor hair is taken. FUT involves the elimination of a strip of the scalp, while FUE includes the separation of individual follicular units directly from the border of the scalp by means of a punch tool. As a result, FUE only leaves behind small round scars rather than one single line scar left by FUT. Generally speaking, FUE is much more time-consuming and requires more physical input, which later may make it more expensive per every single graft. The patients requiring this type of treatment usually are the ones who want to keep their hair very short or are worried about scarring that can be spotted by others. On the other hand, FUT is a perfect solution for the patients who require a large number of grafts and are not so worried about the linear scars that will be covered by longer hair.
An ideal patient for FUT is one who has moderate to advanced hair loss along with a sufficient amount of donor hair and good scalp elasticity. Those people who prefer a lower number of surgeries to reach their desired density or those who do not plan to wear hair very short are the most likely candidates for this operation. Besides, the candidates absolutely must be in good general condition and have no diseases (e.g uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disorders) which could be a hindrance to healing process.
As with any surgery, there are risks involved in the FUT technique. The most common side effect is a linear scar in the area where the donor hair is taken, this scar may be more visible in people who cut their hair shorter. Furthermore, the temporary shock loss of native hair is others’ potential side effects, whereas minor bleeding or swelling are possible. In unusual cases, infections may arise following unguided post-op care instructions. Also, patients might feel tightness or numbness in the donor site for a few weeks, though these feelings commonly go away over time. It is extremely important for patients to pick an experienced practitioner who is board certified in order to lower the chances and get the best results.
Recovery from a FUT surgery usually goes like this. In the first week, patients may have some swelling and mild pain and the wound at the back with sutures or staples that need dressing. To the same extent, patients need to stay away from strenuous activities and sleep with their heads up. The third week usually corresponds to the moment that the transplanted hair falls out—medically known as shock loss. The hair goes into a state of dormancy after the hair goes to rest before the initial process of growth.
New hair will start to grow only from the third to the sixth month and though it may seem uncertain at the very beginning, it is better than what it seems. In the span of six to twelve months, patients are normally the happiest; they usually experience more hair and better coverage of it. The results of an FUT hair transplant are usually fully visible after a year with the transplanted hair showing the properties of natural hair. The hair can thus be washed, cut, and styled as desired, and the new hair will be there as a permanent solution for baldness.
The prices of FUT hair transplants are not fixed, and they vary with a number of factors. Among those factors are the geographical location of the clinic, the surgeon’s skills, and the number of hair follicles to be transplanted. In the US, the total procedure ranges between $4,000 and $15,000. A few clinics provide special deals or credit options to help the patient get the best offer. Because FUT can give a larger quantity of grafts in one shot, the method is usually more economical for patients suffering from a large area of baldness.
Picking the right surgeon is maybe the most important decision in the hair transplant journey. A qualified surgeon can substantially add to the safety of the procedure and its successful results. Having in mind that most of them are board-certified doctors who have done plenty of FUT surgeries, and recognizing the patients from their old and current photographs, knowing their outcomes, and the reviews have all convinced me. Certainly, the final consultation also plays a crucial role, as it involves talking about the patient’s objectives, creating a relevant treatment schedule, and a very clear explanation of the possible risks and costs in the case.
Even though FUT is certainly a reliable and traditional method, some patients may still want to look for some other options. FUE, another no longer new but still the most popular method, satisfies the needs of those people who are in search of the least invasive type of hair transplant with fewer scars that are difficult to find. Besides this, DHI is the most recent FUE modification, which consists of direct implantation of grafts into the patient’s scalp using an implanter without any recipient incisions beforehand. In addition, there are a number of alternative treatments that are non-surgical in nature, e.g. SMP, a cosmetic tattooing technique imparts the appearance of more hair density on the scalp; and PRP therapy, a hair restoration method that involves the use of the patient’s blood for stimulation of hair growth. On the other hand, there are both topical and oral medications like minoxidil and finasteride which are non-surgical and can be used for hair loss treatment, nonetheless, they usually give less effective results than the surgery.
To sum up, FUT hair transplants are indeed quite reliable, efficient, and long-term solutions for patients who struggle with hair loss. It is still a fact that a linear scar can be a discouraging factor for some patients, but those who normally grow long hair will most likely not notice it. Moreover, the favorable aspects of FUT such as high graft yield, budget-friendliness, and undetectable results are very loud and clear reasons why it is a winner of this debate. Patients, with the help of an authorized and professional clinic and adherence to all after-surgery guidelines, not only get hair back but also restore their inner confidence and remarkably improve their quality of life.
