FOLLICULAR UNIT TRANSPLANTATION
FOLLICULAR UNIT TRANSPLANTATION
HOW FUT WORKS
FUT uses a narrow section of hair-bearing tissue from the donor area to obtain follicular unit grafts. The tissue is carefully prepared under magnification, allowing the individual grafts to be separated and preserved for transplantation.
Donor Strip Removal
A narrow strip of hair-bearing tissue is removed from the donor area at the back of the scalp. The area is then carefully closed with sutures, leaving a thin linear scar that is typically concealed by the surrounding hair.
Microscopic Graft Preparation
The donor tissue is carefully prepared under magnification by the transplant team. It is divided into individual follicular unit grafts, each containing one or more hairs, while preserving the grafts for transplantation.
Recipient Site Placement
The prepared follicular unit grafts are placed into carefully planned recipient sites. Placement is guided by the desired hairline, density, angle, spacing, and natural direction of growth for a balanced result.
WHY CHOOSE FUT?
FUT remains an important hair transplant option. It can offer advantages for certain donor areas, procedure sizes, and long-term restoration plans. The best method depends on the individual. Both FUT and FUE are recognized as current donor-harvesting techniques.
FUT can allow a large number of follicular unit grafts to be harvested in a single procedure, which may make it useful for people needing more extensive coverage.
FUT generally does not require a large portion of the back of the scalp to be shaved, and the closure can often be concealed by the surrounding hair.
Because grafts are obtained from a concentrated strip rather than spread throughout a wider donor area, FUT can be useful as part of a long-term donor-management strategy for some patients.
The donor strip allows follicular units to be carefully separated under direct microscopic magnification by the transplant team before placement.
The tradeoff: FUT leaves a linear donor scar, typically concealed by longer hair.
FUT OR FUE?
FUT and FUE both use your own donor hair to create follicular unit grafts for transplantation. The main difference is how those grafts are harvested from the donor area. Both remain current hair-transplant techniques.
ISHRS describes these as distinct donor-harvesting approaches, with FUT concentrating the scar in one linear area while FUE distributes small extraction sites throughout the donor region.
Neither method is right for everyone. Your donor area, hair characteristics, hairstyle, previous procedures, and long-term restoration plan all help determine which approach makes the most sense.
REAL RESULTS
Every hair transplant is planned around the individual’s hair loss, donor area, hair characteristics, and goals. Explore real Jernigan’s results to see a range of hairlines, coverage, and restoration approaches.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Yes. FUT leaves a linear scar in the donor area where the strip of tissue is removed and closed. The scar is typically concealed by surrounding hair, which is why FUT is generally better suited to people who do not wear the donor area extremely short.
FUT usually does not require the larger donor-area shave commonly associated with standard FUE. The hair surrounding the donor strip can generally remain longer and help conceal the closure.
For some people, FUT can provide access to a large number of grafts while concentrating donor scarring in one linear area rather than distributing individual extraction sites throughout the donor region. Donor supply, hairstyle, scalp characteristics, previous procedures, and long-term goals all factor into the decision.
No. FUT and FUE differ mainly in how the donor grafts are harvested. Once prepared, the follicular unit grafts are transplanted into recipient sites using the same general principles of hairline design, angle, direction, and density.
That decision is made after evaluating your donor area, scalp characteristics, hairstyle, degree of hair loss, and long-term restoration plan. FUT and FUE are both current surgical options, and one may make more sense depending on the individual.
Meet with our team to discuss your hair loss, donor area, and the transplant techniques that may be appropriate for you.