It is all because of the donor site. An important concept to understand is that hair transplantation, as the name suggests, repurposes hair follicles from a high-density area to a low-density area.

With FUT a strip of tissue is removed from the scalp. This means hair density is significantly more in the donor area of the occipital region. With FUE, individual follicles are harvested from the occipital region, typically one in three to four ‘follicular units.’ The result is a more homogeneous density of the donor site.

The advantage of FUT over FUE is a reduction in surgical time. This is because after donor site strip harvesting a team of dissectors will immediately start processing the harvested area. FUT takes 2-6 hours to complete, depending on the complexity of dissection.

Careful dissection under a microscope is required to reduce transaction rates. Once transacted, hair follicles are permanently lost & will not grow back, hence the meticulous work by a team of specialists.

No. We use local anaesthetic in both the donor and recipient sites. For most patients we give light sedation & muscle relaxants. You will be awake, but super chilled for the entire procedure. Most patients watch a movie on the iPad supplied, or listen to music/ read.

Post procedure pain is managed with paracetamol. Your recipient & donor sites will be sore for a few days post operatively.

FUT has a longer recovery time compared to FUE in the context of the donor site. This is because the FUT excision strip requires sutures. Swelling & pain is more with FUT compared to FUE. As a guide-

• Restrict exercise for 10 days following FUT.
• Wound review on day 12 to 14.
• Altered sensation is common after FUT, generally settling in months to years.
• Raised scars are not uncommon after FUT (esp. In darker skin, younger patients). Higher tension can result in hypertrophic scarring.

Both FUE & FUT recipient sites heal at the same rate. Scabs fall off within the first 7 to 12 days.

Your surgeon can guide you through the revision process. Good surgical technique reduces the possibility of scars. Established scars following surgery can be treated with-

• Intralesional steroid injections.
• Massage.
• Fractional laser resurfacing.
• FUE to the scar line & or scalp micropigmentation.
• Re-excision of the original scar line.

In three to four months, you will start to notice some growth. This increases over the next six to eight months. Maximal density is achieved around 12 months post- transplant.

Though big studies are lacking, the addition of PRP 4 to 8 weeks post-transplant can theoretically accelerate hair growth

To date, surgical transplantation of hair gives the most permanent solution for hair loss, however it is important to slow down hair fall in other areas. This is especially important for patients in the 20’s as hair loss is progressive. Your dermatologist will discuss treatment options including oral or topical minoxidil, PRP, lasers as well as hormone blockers such as finasteride & dutasteride.

The main factor is costs, which is directly related to the time taken to harvest the donor site. FUE is a tedious & meticulous process that involves extraction of each & every follicle. With FUT, the donor strip is harvested by the surgeon whilst dissection is performed by technicians.

97% of our patients choose FUE over FUT as the former gives a more homogenous outcome, looks natural & has a faster recovery time.

Side effects are rare following transplant surgery. FUT has a higher complication rate as this involves excisional surgery, as compared to FUE. Possible side effects include-

• Scarring at the donor site (strip harvest), including spread scars.
• Loss of sensation & pain at donor > recipient site.
• Infection (rare).
• Changes in hair density. As FUT is strip removal of the donor site, hair density is not as homogenous as FUE transplants.

Your surgeon will discuss the risks in more detail as it pertains to your procedure.

Yes, however you must be realistic with your goals. Non-surgical options are best for early hair loss & or mild to moderate cases of androgenic alopecia. Your dermatologist will discuss options with you, including-

• Topicals that include minoxidil & or finasteride.
• Oral medications such as dutasteride, minoxidil or finasteride.
• Hair growth procedures such as microneedling, PRP, LLED & lasers.
• Natural supplements such as saw palmetto.

A sensible treatment routine with minimal side effects & low cost is daily use of minoxidil & finasteride lotion, & Platelet Rich Plasma injections. Book a consultation with a medical dermatologist for an assessment & treatment plan.

Hair loss is progressive, hence the absolute need to slow down the loss of hair follicles. This especially applies to young patients. Medical therapy can slow down this process in 90% of patients. The aim of a hair transplant surgeon is to repurpose hair follicles & to preserve viable follicles- for life.

Book a consultation with either myself or my colleagues at Clinic Cutis. Dermatologists are experts in the management of hair loss disorders.

Careful timing of transplantation procedures is paramount for both efficacy in the short term & most importantly long term. You are not a candidate for FUT or FUE if you have-

• Alopecia areata that is still active or dynamic.
• Inflammatory disorders that are not controlled (FFA, lichen planopilaris, Folliculitis deCalvans). A 2-year quiescent time frame is required before hair transplantation. In some cases, your dermatologist may elect to perform a test spot.
• Early onset androgenetic alopecia in patients less than 25 years of age. *

*Transplantation in young patients is not an absolute contraindication as some patients are suitable candidates if surgery is conservative. All patients should be on medical treatments to preserve remaining follicles.