As FUT and FUE are both major techniques of hair transplant surgery, the comparison of FUE vs FUT is crucial if you wish to undergo the procedure. Both are successful methods, what distinguishes them is the way hair follicle is extracted in each technique.
In this article, we will discuss the FUT and FUE hair transplant differences in detail for an in-depth understanding. Below is a quick outlook on what you going to learn:
- THE HAIR TRANSPLANT COST PER GRAFT FOR FUT IS $4-$11 AND FOR FUE $2-$5
- IN FUT, THEY REMOVE A STRIP OF SCALP AND FURTHER DISSECT IT WHILE THE FOLLICLES ARE DIRECTLY HARVESTED IN FUE.
- THE PROS OF FUE ARE NO VISIBLE SCARS AND A SHORTER RECOVERY PERIOD, AND ITS CONS ARE LESS YIELD AND LONGER SURGERY TIME.
- THE PROS OF FUT INCLUDE A SHORTER OPERATION WITH MORE YIELD OF HAIR. ITS CONS ARE A LINEAR SCAR AND A LONGER HEALING TIME.
- TO FIND THE RIGHT TECHNIQUE FOR EACH PATIENT, THE PATIENT’S CONDITION AND CONSULTATION WITH AN EXPERIENCED DOCTOR ARE THE DETERMINING FACTORS
Let’s dive deep into every single one of them.
What Are The Differences Between FUE Vs FUT?
The main FUT and FUE hair transplant differences are listed below.
- COST
- HAIR FOLLICLE EXTRACTION
- HEALING TIMELINES
- RECOVERY
- RISKS OF SCARRING
- SUCCESS RATE
In the image below, we have explained each technique separately. It can help you decide on the best option for restoring your hair without any hesitation or doubts.
Cost
The FUT costs more than FUE. The price range for these two hair transplant procedures is as follows:
- FUE $5000-$12000
- FUT $8000-$15000
The final price of the surgery is based on the number of grafts the patient needs. The average cost per graft for each method is:
- FUE: $2-$5
- FUT: $4-$10
Since FUT is more invasive, there should be more members of a professional team present during the surgery. This leads to higher prices to cover the expenses.
Another reason is the increasing popularity of FUE. Surgeons perform FUE more often compared to FUT. So, if the surgeons do FUT for any reason, they might require a higher price for the procedure.
Hair Follicle Extraction
FUE stands for Follicular Unit Extraction. As the name implies, they extract follicular units from the donor area. Follicular units are groups of 1-4 hair follicles. This extraction is done by using micro-punches of 0.6-0.9 mm in diameter.
In FUT, the doctor extracts the graft by removing a strip of skin from the scalp at the donor area. After that, the surgeon closes the area using stitches and covers it with bandages.
Processing the grafts before implantation is also a bit different:
In FUT, the surgeon selects the healthy follicles from the strip under a high-powered microscope and puts them in a specific solution before inserting them. After the follicular units are extracted in FUE, they are put in a saline solution.
The implantation procedure is the same for both techniques. The surgeon makes tiny holes in the recipient area using a small needle. They then insert the grafts into these holes.
Recovery And Healing Timelines
The recovery period is shorter and less painful for FUE. This is because FUT is an invasive procedure, while FUE is minimally invasive without any stitches and big wounds.
HEALING TIME | |
FUT: 10-14 DAYS | FUE: 3-7 DAYS |
While the recipient area’s healing time is approximately two weeks for both procedures, this is not the case for the donor site. The donor area in FUT takes 2-3 weeks to heal, while it takes one week in FUE.
Risks Of Scarring
In FUT, a linear scar at the donor area at the back of the head is formed. This scar on the donor area can be concealed with a long hairstyle no shorter than a half inch.
On the other hand, the follicle extraction procedure in FUE leaves scars like tiny white dots in the donor site. These dots are hard to detect even with a short hairstyle.
Success Rate
The success rate between FUE and FUT is around the same percentage. It changes between 90% and 95% depending on the correct method usage. If a person gets a hair transplant not suited to their needs, it changes the success rate quite a bit. That’s why we can’t compare these different methods for the same condition.
Comparing The Advantages Of FUT vs FUE
FUE | FUT |
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Comparing The Disadvantages Of FUT vs FUE
FUE | FUT |
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Even though the surgery duration takes longer in FUE hair transplant, it does not need stitches, unlike FUT.
Which Hair Transplant Method Is Right For You?
If you don’t want a visible scar at the back of your head with a long recovery time, the FUE might be good for you. However, If you wish to have maximum fullness and coverage FUT can be the option. But these are not the only determining factors.
To make the crucial decision of choosing the right hair transplant technique you should consider the three following factors:
- CONSIDERING INDIVIDUAL FACTORS
- CONSULTATION WITH A SPECIALIST
- CUSTOMIZED TREATMENT PLANS
Let’s discuss them one by one.
Considering Individual Factors
The individual factors to consider for choosing the best hair restoration procedure for you are:
- THE EXTENT OF HAIR LOSS
- DONOR AREA AVAILABILITY
- REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
The Extent of Hair Loss
If the patient wants hair transplantation for a small part of the hair, FUE works well.
If a large area of your head requires hair restoration, FUT is the better option for you. This is because FUT yields more hair.
Donor Area Availability
FUE can work on areas with low hair density in donor areas and this makes it a good option for people with few available donor areas.
Since FUT can leave a visible scar, if there’s not enough hair in the donor site, it is hard to hide this linear scar.
Realistic Expectations
Regardless of the method you choose, it is crucial to understand that hair transplantation may not be effective for treating complete baldness. So, have expectations within reality limits and opt for the more efficient procedure out there.
Consultation With A Specialist
A well-trained and experienced hair transplant surgeon can help patients with the best type of procedure by assessing their situations. During the pre-op consultation, the surgeon checks the following factors to see which techniques treat the situation better:
- THE DONOR SITE AVAILABILITY
- THE ANGLE OF THE HAIR
- THE TYPE OF HAIR LOSS
Maybe among all the three, consultation with an expert surgeon plays the most important role. This is because the doctor can professionally detect all the individual factors and customize each patient’s treatment plan.
Customized Treatment Plans
The best approach for every patient is determined by what provides the widest coverage with the least scarring. A personalized treatment plan ensures the optimal hairline, implantation angles, and natural-looking results at the least cost.
Your hair grows in tiny groups called follicular units. Each follicular unit contains 1-4 hair roots and many more strands that grow from these roots. Harvesting these follicular units and implanting them in balding areas delivers a full head of hair.
IS NEOGRAFT BETTER THAN FUE?
We can’t compare the two because Neograft is a newer implantation method under FUE. It is a semi-automatic variant and it is quite effective among the FUE techniques.
REFERENCES
(2) Dua A, Dua K. Follicular unit extraction hair transplant. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2010 May;3(2):76-81. doi: 10.4103/0974-2077.69015. PMID: 21031064; PMCID: PMC2956961.
