Introduction
Hair loss can come in various ways and affect different parts of your scalp. This may be hereditary when the hormone dihydrotestosterone ruptures your hair follicle by binding to it, due to medical conditions or because your stress levels get raised every day.
The minimal shedding of hair is not concerning however when visible thin patches of hair start to affect your appearance, this is where the need for hair restoration arises. During male pattern hair loss, the first major change men experience is their receding hairline and giving their scalp an M, U or V-like pattern.
Conventional solutions extracted hair plugs from the donor areas and added them to the blad areas, giving an unnatural appearance which was almost equally worse as being bald.
The introduction of hair transplant procedures such as FUT, found in the 1940s has contributed to boosting the confidence of people suffering from hair loss by restoring their natural hairline and producing thick and dense growth which smoothly aligns with the direction of already existing hair.
A FUT hair restoration technique is popular among hair transplant clinics and expert surgeons use this method to treat extensive bald areas on the scalp by embedding healthy follicles into them. This article explores all the Advantages and disadvantages of FUT hair transplant and helps you decide whether it is worth it or not.
Understanding the FUT Procedure
Here is everything you need to know regarding the FUT Hair transplant procedures and what goes on your scalp while you hand over your scalp to the surgeon.
A FUT hair transplant is the method used for harvesting follicular units by removing a strip of scalp tissue from the donor area. The length of this strip depends upon the extent of your hair loss and the follicles needed to regain new hair in the recipient area. Approximately 1.5 centimetres of the strip can be extracted normally.
Here is how the FUT hair restoration method works:
- Your surgeon will first identify the donor area, this is the part where you have proper hair growth which ultimately means that the underlying hair follicles are well-nourished and can be used to regrow new hair.
- The hair from this donor area is shaved, allowing your surgeon to have a better view of your scalp and proceed ahead with the surgery.
- A strip of your skin is then cut from mostly the back of your scalp filled with healthy hair.
- After harvesting this skin, individual hair follicles will be dissected under a microscope to ensure their viability and stability. They will be kept in a medium to ensure proper care in between the procedures.
- The surgeon will then apply stitches on the back of your head to close the donor area. This closing will leave a linear scar.
- On the recipient area, the careful implantation of hair follicles will be performed ensuring they are placed at the right angles just as your current hair growth.
A professional clinic that tends to understand the patient’s requirements will offer a detailed pre-procedure consultation which involves the examination of your scalp condition, and your detailed medical history to ensure everything goes the right way and FUT procedure drawbacks and benefits to ensure you make an informed decision.
Moreover, you will be awake during the procedure as local anaesthesia will be given to you which will numb your scalp. A surgical environment that involves an experienced doctor with a team to manage the procedures will further enhance your comfort levels during the procedure.
Advantages of FUT Hair Transplant
Just as with every other procedure, there are several Advantages and disadvantages of FUT hair transplant, so let’s delve deeper into the perks of FUT hair transplant.
- Higher Graft Yield: A FUT hair restoration allows for more hair follicles to be harvested in one session compared to FUE where single follicles are extracted. This procedure is suitable for patients suffering from enormous hair shedding.
- Permanent Results: Hair grafts implanted via the FUT Hair transplant procedures generally grow permanently as it is taken from areas with stable hair follicles which are usually at the back or sides of the head.
- Better for Large Areas of Baldness: FUT is often recommended for patients with more advanced hair loss as it allows a higher number of follicles to be implanted.
- Natural-looking Results: The FUT hair restoration involves precise placement of follicles which mimics the natural hairline, resulting in a more natural appearance.
- Improved Graft Survival Rates: FUT typically has a better survival rate for grafts due to the meticulous techniques with which the follicles are harvested and stored. This ensures the least distress to the follicles while extracting them and their maximum time in the skin tissue prevents them from being deprived of nutrients.
Disadvantages of FUT Hair Transplant
However, the FUT procedure drawbacks include:
- Scarring: While closing your scalp, the joining of the two edges of the remaining skin results in the presence of a linear scar at the donor site especially concerning for those with short hairstyles due to its visibility.
However, modern FUT Hair transplant procedures have allowed surgeons to work with scar minimization techniques like trichophytic closure. During this technique, one flap of the open scalp overlaps the other flap, allowing hair to directly grow on the scar area and conceal its appearance. - Longer Recovery Time: The FUT hair transplant has extended healing periods as compared to other Hair transplant procedures like FUE. It will take about 2 weeks for your sutures on the donor area to completely heal and get removed.
There is a significant need for rest and potential limitations on physical activities post-surgery as immediate strenuous activities can lead to the opening of your stitches. - Post-operative Pain and Discomfort: There is also a high chance of possible pain or discomfort following the procedure due to the incision at the donor site. The swelling, redness and tightness in the donor area will be due to the surgical opening made for extracting your skin.
However, taking the antibiotics prescribed by your doctor will help in the management and relief of pain. - Risk of Complications: One of the major FUT procedure drawbacks is the rise of possible complications which can disrupt your healing process. These include infection which can occur if proper hygienic conditions are not maintained during and after the procedure allowing microbes to stick to the wound.
Although not very common, nerve damage during incision can be a serious issue.
The development of abnormal scarring due to exerting pressure on the wound and negligent post-op care. - Limited Donor Area: FUT hair restoration is limited to a certain donor area which includes the back side of your hair as this part is tolerant to hair shedding.
Moreover, individuals with tight scalp skin may not be ideal candidates for FUT as extracting a strip of skin demands elasticity on your head for smooth wound healing.
How FUT Compares to Other Hair Transplant Methods
Comparison with FUE:
- When comparing the FUT hair restoration with other Hair transplant procedures such as FUE we get to explore that FUT hair transplant harvests a strip of your skin, being a surgical procedure it demands longer recovery and leaves a linear scar.
Comparatively, an FUE procedure is a minimally invasive technique that will use a micropunch tool to extract individual follicles and implant them in your hair. The FUE leaves small circular scars, a quicker healing time but the process is expensive due to the total cost estimated per graft that is implanted. - FUT hair transplant is better than FUE in cases where patients are suffering from extensive hair loss and what large area of their hair to be covered in a one time procedure. The FUE Hair restoration yields 2-4 thousand grafts in a single session whereas FUE is limited to about 2 thousand grafts.
Who is an Ideal Candidate for FUT?
- Candidates with Advanced Baldness: FUT is more suited to those struggling with potential hair loss such as males meeting the criteria of the higher levels of norwood scale and females suffering from hair thinning. This procedure provides an opportunity for full coverage by filling the bald areas with a large number of grafts which in turn produce thick and dense hair.
- Those with Good Donor Hair: Candidates with thick, dense hair at the back or sides of the head are ideal for FUT hair restoration. This is because this procedure requires you to get a strip of skin cut from these areas allowing the surgeon to harvest follicles from the hair present.
- Patients Looking for Permanent Results: FUT hair transplant offers long-lasting results because the new hair follicles are resistant against hair fall hormones. The procedure guarantees permanent hair growth as the transplanted follicles will thrive on the recipient area just like they did on the donor area.
Aftercare and Recovery Process
To make the most out of FUT hair transplant benefits, an effective Post-Surgery Care is essential. Immediately after surgery, you need to ensure proper scalp hygiene by washing your head just the way your surgeon suggested, avoiding direct sunlight, and avoiding tight hats that can exert strain on your wounds and new follicles.
Understanding the Recovery Timeline can help you understand when to worry and when to stay relaxed after getting a FUT hair restoration done.
The first few days will come with swelling , redness, tenderness and scalp formation on your scalp. This is normal and will subside as the days proceed. Right after a few weeks you will experience the hair shedding phase, where your hair will start to fall out. There is no need to worry as this is just an initial response of your hair to the procedure.
Your new follicles are safely embedded and will start to grow hair once this phase is over. Within 3 months the shedding will go away and new hair will start to grow.
As the month progresses you will be excited to experience the rapid growth and till about 12 months your hair will grow fully.
Common Myths and Misconceptions About FUT
FUT Is Painful :
FUT hair restoration is a surgical procedure but modern techniques along with local anesthetic have reduced discomfort. However, after the surgery, mild discomfort is possible due to the tightness and soreness on the scalp.
FUT Has Visible Scarring :
Although the technique leaves a linear scar the visibility of FUT scars can be decreased by modern advancements in techniques that minimize scarring such as trichophytic closure.
FUT is Only for Older Patients :
FUT is effective for people of various ages, depending on the extent of hair loss.
Cost of FUT Hair Transplant
Various factors Affect the Cost of an FUT hair restoration number of grafts, the experience of the surgeon, and geographic location.
FUT is an expensive option when comparing with other Hair transplant procedures but you need to think about the cost and the value in this case.
Other treatments like medications or non-surgical methods are cheaper for the short term but offer temporary solutions until they are being continued. Once you stop investing in them, you will be disappointed by your hair.
However, a FUT Hair Transplant offers permanent solutions that don’t require any additional maintenance and you get to experience unlimited hair growth for the rest of your life.
Furthermore, you can look for Insurance and financing options such as monthly payment plans and loans for getting these procedures done.
Conclusion: Should You Choose FUT for Hair Restoration?
FUT hair restoration is a versatile and result-oriented technique that is used across the globe for solving the complexity of hair loss problems in a single session. The Advantages and disadvantages of FUT hair transplant are somewhat equal for this technique.
These include the quick procedure time, coverage of large bald spots on the scalp and natural looking results. However, the linear scar, long healing duration and risk of infections are some of the FUT procedure drawbacks.
To solve this problem, innovations in the hair transplant worlds have increased the FUT hair transplant benefits, including the scar management and new discoveries regarding tips and tricks of efficient post-op care which make the recovery journey easier.
Before making a decision, it is always essential to consult with a surgeon who can analyze your scalp and health and recommend the method according to your expectations.
At Harley St HealthCare Hair Transplant Clinics, our team of experts in FUT hair transplant offer free consultation sessions to guide you regarding the right choice to make.
