What is Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)?

Hair loss generally affects 85 percent of men and 40 percent of women. Follicular unit transplant (FUT) and other hair transplants are minimally invasive surgeries to help cover bald areas caused by hair loss.

The most commonly used hair transplant procedures are; It is called “Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)” and “Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)”.

In the FUT operation, a surgeon cuts a strip of skin from the back or side of your head and removes individual hair follicles (follicles) from it. These follicles are then placed on the balding areas of your scalp. Surgery is ideal for closing a bald hairline caused by male pattern baldness.

What are the Application Stages in Follicular Unit Transplant Method?

During FUT, your surgeon cuts a strip of skin from your scalp, usually from the back of your head. The exact size of the strip depends on the number of follicles needed to cover the bald spots. The strip usually does not exceed 1 to 1.5 centimeters. After the follicles are removed from the strip one by one, they are reinserted into your scalp.

Hair transplant operations take between 4 and 8 hours. Hair transplantation with FUT operation is usually faster than FUE operation. Most people stay awake during surgery with a local anesthetic that numbs the scalp.

We can list the stages of the FUT operation as follows;

• Your surgeon redraws your hairline, marks the hair regrowth, and takes pictures of you for registration.
• Before the operation, local anesthesia is applied to numb your scalp.
• The hair in the donor area where the follicles will be obtained is shortened to approximately 2 millimeters.
• Your surgeon cuts the strip of skin containing the hair follicles to be used as a graft. The technician, on the other hand, removes the hair follicles in this strip one by one and prepares them for transplantation in the most ideal conditions.
• The hair follicles are then placed on the balding parts of your scalp in the most natural-looking way.
• Antibiotics are applied to the scalp against possible infections and wrapped with a bandage.

Although most people see the results of this hair transplant operation within 6-9 months, for some this process may take up to a year.

Who Is FUT Operation Suitable For?

In order for hair transplantation to be performed with both FUE and FUT methods, it is necessary to have enough hair on your head to be used as a graft. Men with androgenic alopecia (often called male pattern baldness) are the best candidates for FUT. In men, this condition is usually seen in the Norwood pattern or an M-shaped hairline with hair loss at the temples. Women with this condition often experience the Ludwig pattern, which causes hair loss throughout the hair portion or thinning on the top of the head.

If the hair loss is caused by a thyroid disorder or a medical condition such as alopecia areata, FUT surgery probably won't be a good option.

Persons with the following characteristics are most suitable for FUT operation;

• over 25 years old,
• Men with Norwood type hair loss,
• People with high hair follicle density,
• Those who experience shedding in the front of the head,
• People with hair color similar to their skin tone are generally better candidates as they have less color contrast.

What are the Differences Between FUE and FUT Methods?

Both FUT and FUE progress by transplanting individual hair follicles. During FUT surgery, your surgeon cuts a strip of skin from the back or side of your scalp and then removes hair follicles. In FUE surgery, your surgeon takes hair follicles directly from your scalp instead of taking a strip from the scalp first.

FUE is currently a more common hair transplant operation and some of the advantages of hair transplant with the FUE method are:

• It heals faster.
• There is less pain after the surgery.
• It does not cause any significant scarring.
• Hair taken from other body parts can be used.
• It can be used even if your hair density is weak.

Hair transplantation with the FUT method also has some advantages;

• It may be a better option if you need a large number of hair follicles.
• The transaction takes place in a shorter time.
• It is more cost effective.

What are the Possible Side Effects of Hair Transplantation with the FUT Method?

Complications after FUT are rare. Plenty of blood to the head helps it heal quickly and helps prevent infections.

FUT surgery leaves a scar at the epilation site. The scar disappears over time, but it is permanent. The size of the surgical scar depends on how many hair follicles are used during the surgery. The trace is usually hidden by your hair, but it can be seen if you keep your hair short. If the operation is performed properly by a trained surgeon, it creates a natural-looking result and is safe. As a result of the procedure, it leaves a mark on the hair regrowth, so if you prefer to use your hair short, hair transplantation with the FUE method may be a better option.