Introduction
Follicular Unit Transplantation and Follicular Unit Extractions are some of the best methods introduced to patients worried about their hair thinning and baldness. Follicular Unit Transplantation involves extracting out a strip full of thick hair and harvesting your hair follicles whereas FUE individually derives single follicles from your scalp.
Both offer a good number of hair grafts that contribute to hair growth. However, patients lying on advanced levels of the Norwood scale require the combination of both techniques to achieve superior hair restoration results with the implantation of a greater number of grafts.
This is a growing trend in advanced hair transplant procedures because people with no coverage on their hairline, temple and vertex can transform their looks and feel good about themselves. This blog explores the process, challenges and advantages of the FUT and FUE combination hair transplant.
The Basics of FUT
A FUT hair transplant is done when your doctor removes a strip of your hair which is usually thin and filled with follicles. This extracted strip is then viewed microscopically and follicular units are achieved through your skin. A slight cut is made on your scalp and follicles are precisely implanted on the bald spots according to your hair angle.
Advantages of FUT
FUT supports a high graft yield in a single session which is beneficial for patients suffering from extensive hair loss.
FUT is also effective for covering large balding areas eliminating the need for more than one session, allowing you to save more time.
Limitations of FUT
After getting a FUT hair transplant, your donor area may experience Linear scarring. However, this is not an issue as your existing hair will cover it up.
This process comes with a Longer recovery time as compared to the FUE procedure because the stitches present on your scalp will require extra care during the post-op healing period.
The Basics of FUE
An FUE is a minimally invasive technique that involves using a micro punch tool for the extraction of hair grafts. These grafts are meticulously analyzed and transplanted to the recipient areas ensuring their placement in the accurate directions.
Advantages of FUE
During FUE you will experience only minimal scarring instead of a linear scar.
FUE has a shorter recovery period and doesn’t require extra care post-op.
If you are someone with shorter hair, then considering a FUE may be your best choice as you can easily style your hair without any worries of visible scars
Limitations of FUE
Patients facing severe hair loss due to genetic, hormonal or stress conditions may not be satisfied with a single session as this holds the potential for lower graft yield.
FUE is also a time-intensive process as it requires harvesting single grafts and this requires plenty of patience especially when there is a need for a greater amount of follicles.
Why Combine FUT and FUE?
The advantages of FUT and FUE together are numerous. The rationale for combining both methods is utilizing FUT for bulk grafting in larger areas so that we can extract a large number of grafts at a single time and refine hairlines and smaller areas with FUE.
This is particularly seen in cases where the hairfall has worsened and these techniques alone cannot generate potential results as they do for other people with normal hair loss.
FUT and FUE combination hair transplant offers the implantation of 4 thousand grafts together which can be highly effective in people who have lost all the hopes regarding watching hair grow on their scalp ever again.
Scenarios where FUT and FUE combination hair transplant can be a great choice:
Where the scalp is losing its coverage and requires more grafts. This is for patients mostly at levels 6 and 7 of the Norwood Scale.
Revising prior transplants such as enhancing the hair density, covering the bald spots and correcting the errors made in the previous transplant.
The donor area is restricted to only a few grafts with a large demand at the recipient area. FUT takes the grafts from the donor area without limiting its supply and FUE extracts from other parts of your scalp along with protecting the donor area.
Benefits of Combining FUT and FUE
- Maximized Donor Area Utilization: FUT and FUE combination hair transplant exploits the potential of both strip and individual follicle harvesting. Numerous grafts are first obtained from the donor area in the form of a strip and then further grafts are extracted from alternative points.
- Increased Graft Numbers: This approach also assists in maximizing hair density in transplants in areas with significant balding. Harvesting abundant grafts can promise good coverage to people with exorbitant hair shedding.
- Aesthetic Excellence: FUT focuses on the larger areas without any hair whereas FUE takes care of your hairline and crown areas. This blend of techniques vouches for a natural, seamless result.
- Donor Site Preservation: Both of these Hair transplant techniques spread the load on donor areas, reducing overharvesting risks along with well-distributed hair on your donor areas and the recipient areas.
- Customizable Treatment Plans: FUT and FUE when performed together offer tailored strategies to meet individual patient needs according to their hair type and the extent of hair loss.
Ideal Candidates for Combination Techniques
Not every patient requires a FUT and FUE combination hair transplant as majority of the patients can achieve their hair goals with any one of these. However, in certain cases, individual efforts by a technique are still less.
Let’s take a look at the Characteristics of patients who benefit most from a combined approach:
- In both of the hair transplant techniques, a good quantity of grafts are yielded with about 3500 grafts obtained from the FUT and 2000 grafts obtained from the FUE. However, Individuals with extensive balding who require more grafts can make the most out of combining both these techniques.
- Patients who got done with their hair transplant but are still not satisfied with the outcomes or the results didn’t meet their expectations as they still suffer from a lack of self-esteem due to their hair can try the FUT and FUE combination hair transplant.
The FUT will make your hair more dense by implanting the healthy grafts from your hair strip and FUE will cover all the remaining small areas, eventually improving your looks. - Individuals who prioritize both, their dream hair density and minimal visible scarring can try out this technique. FUT will promise you thick hair with its well-known method of extracting the best grafts for you whereas FUE will leave no scars on the areas of your head which are usually visible when you meet people such as your hairline.
Step-by-Step Process of a Combined Procedure
For Maximizing hair density in transplants a well-structured plan is needed as both of the techniques depend on your scalp health and your surgeons’ skills.
- Initial Consultation: At Harley St Health Care we offer free consultations for our patients to make an informed decision regarding the procedure they are going for. Your surgeon will assess your hair loss pattern, sufficiency at the donor site, and overall goals regarding the procedure.
- Designing the Plan: The surgeon will then determine the areas for FUT from where they will harvest a vast amount of grafts and specific regions of your scalp for FUE application.
- The surgical procedure involves:
- Performing FUT by drawing out the strip from the scalp tissue and then extracting large graft volumes and then implanting them into your bald spots.
- Refining smaller, visible areas such as the temple with FUE, by using the tools that retrieve individual follicles.
- Post-Operative Care: The healing period for both of the methods is different. However, as dual procedures are performed on your scalp, you will be required to take some extra precautions which include preventing heat tools, avoiding rough treatment of your scalp, staying away from sun exposure and taking the prescribed medications on time.
Challenges and Considerations
Potential challenges of combining FUT and FUE
The duration of this process will be longer because you need a larger number of grafts than the normal procedures. So you need to make time for these procedures and get rid of your busy schedule before planning to go for a FUT and FUE combination hair transplant.
The costs of these processes might be heavy on your pocket because these dual techniques come with meticulous efforts of the surgeons and their long hours in the surgery.
Not every surgeon is an expert in both of these Hair Transplant Techniques. This process requires expertise from highly skilled surgeons who can enhance your looks by correctly filling your hairline and other scalp areas.
Factors to consider before choosing this approach
First, you need to think about your hair restoration goals. Discussing your targets with the surgeon before starting the procedure can assist them better in especially focusing on the areas where you want to see improvement in
You should set your budget and be well aware of the timeline of this procedure. Look after options such as insurance which may help in getting this treatment to resolve your hair fall issues.
The surgeons’ competence will never work if your donor area condition and hair quality are in a poor state. This is why consultation sessions are necessary where your doctor can judge your hair state and recommend the most compatible methods
Comparing Results: Combined vs. Single Techniques
- Density achieved: Combined Hair transplant techniques involve the implantation of greater follicles by the addition of both processes to generate noticeable outcomes.
- Aesthetic improvements: The advantages of FUT and FUE together include a perfectly blended look of batch implantation and detailed enhancement of your scalp.
- Donor area utilization and preservation: FUT and FUE combination hair transplant apply a well-balanced approach and ensure that your donor area doesn’t lose its potential of holding strong follicles along with supplying a good amount of grafts.
Expert Tips for Patients Considering Combined FUT and FUE
To choose the right clinic and surgeon for this advanced method, you need to keep your priorities in mind and choose a clinic that offers detailed consultations, has plenty of clinics across the town and has proven results with images of their FUE and FUT hair transplant.
At Harley St Health Care, we offer free consultation sessions and our various clinics in London are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Questions to ask during the consultation:
Ask your surgeon regarding their experience with combined procedures, the percentage of their successful outcomes and their years of experience.
To meet your goal of Maximizing hair density in transplants, it is necessary to set realistic expectations by getting your scalp assessed and discussing the expected graft yield and density.
Discuss the post-operative care plans, how much effort will they require, and the patience needed to witness the results.
Post-Surgery Care and Long-Term Results
The post-operative care is a crucial part of the after process and a slight wrong action might disrupt the results that you want to see.
The healing period includes managing recovery for FUT and FUE sites by avoiding harsh treatment and preventing complications such as interruptions in the growth process of the follicles.
By applying the medicated solutions recommended by your surgeons, avoiding the harsh sun rays, including the essential vitamins in your diet and preventing the application of your hair you can maintain transplanted hair for optimal long-term results.
New hair growth may start after the initial shedding phase, and maximum results can be seen between 12- 18 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, FUT and FUE combination hair transplant can promise you denser, thicker hair with favourable cosmetic results by increasing graft yield. The synergy between FUE and FUT Hair Transplant ensures donor area optimisation and guarantees its long-term viability.
Implementing these two Hair transplant techniques together requires excessive competence as it’s a highly complex procedure and only some surgeons can perform it perfectly so it is better to consult skilled professionals for effective outcomes.
If you are someone exhausted with your old boring looks, and hair fall is troubling your life then you can surely explore this option for a comprehensive solution to hair restoration.
