What’s the difference between FUT and FUE?

FUE and FUT are both methods of transplanting hair to conceal the effects of androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. The methods are not dissimilar but entail slightly different procedures to get the desired effect. A number of factors will help you to decide whether FUT or FUE is the best method for you.

FUE – Follicular Unit Extraction

A popular technique as it is minimally invasive. It requires a highly trained professional to carry out the procedure, which is a service that we offer here at the Hair Repair Clinic. Our experts have carried out thousands of these procedures and are well equipped to complete a hair transplant with completely natural looking results.

The procedure for FUE involves removing hair follicles from another part of your body, usually from the back of your head or neck. A specially designed tool is used to extract the follicles and glands and is performed with the assistance of a microscope to enable the surgeon to maximise the precision. 

These healthy hair follicles are then transplanted into the required area of your scalp, in small clusters of between one and four hairs. This replicates the way that hair grows naturally.

Local anaesthetic is used to complete the procedure so that you remain fully conscious and recover quickly. There is usually no problem with going back into work the following day. Assuming that you follow the aftercare advice carefully, the risk of complication is very low, and you should get a result that you are completely happy with.

FUT – Follicular Unit Transplantation

A slightly different procedure in that the doctor will take strip of hair from the donor area under local anaesthetic, rather than individual follicles. The doctor will then carefully cut the strip into smaller pieces before transplanting them into tiny holes in the recipient area. The whole procedure can take anywhere between 4 and 8 hours.

FUE has now overtaken FUT as the more popular treatment for a number of reasons. FUE is the more modern procedure and has less risk of scarring as individual follicles are taken rather than an entire strip of the scalp. Whilst recovery from FUE is quick and relatively painless, a FUT transplant can take longer to heal as more tissue has been damaged. You also risk scarring where the donor tissue has been removed, although this is usually hidden by the surrounding hair.