Hair Transplantation
A hair transplantation procedure is moving hair from the area of the head where the hair grows most thick, to the area where the hair is thinning or balding. The area of the head where hair grows the thickest and usually never goes bald is at the back of the head, and is called the donor area. The area of the head where the hair is transplanted to, which can be the front, top or crown, is called the recipient area.
FUT Transplantation
Harvest
FUT is a method whereby an entire strip of hair is removed from the donor area. The doctor does this by making a linear incision along the scalp and then moving the entire strip to a microscope to be dissected. The scalp is sutured closed by the doctor. The large strip is separated by cutting it into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces are then separated into single follicular units or grafts, ready for transplantation.
Transplantation
After the grafts are extracted from the donor area, the doctor implants them into the recipient area of the scalp. The recipient area is usually around the front, top, crown and sides. The doctor uses a special tool to then implant the hair into the scalp. The doctor takes great care to make sure the hair is inserted in the natural direction of the hair growth.
FUT Characteristics
- Takes around 4-6 hours
- Linear scar across the donor area
- Recovery takes a while because of the big scar
- Sutures need to be removed
- Can be painful
- The survivability rate of grafts can be around 95%
- Great for longer hairstyles
FUT Options
Unshaved
FUT surgeries usually are performed on unshaven patients. The doctor does not need to remove the follicles one-by-one, but instead just removes the entire strip. The unshaved method is preferable because the scar is completely invisible.
Step 1
Consultation with the doctor
Step 2
Consultation with the doctor
Step 3
New hairline design
Step 4
Administer anesthesia
Step 5
Hair harvesting from donor site
Step 6
Transplanting
Step 7
Recovery
Timeline
Post-operative care will begin 1 day after the surgery; with shampooing, disinfection and laser treatment for maximum viability.
Growth usually begins
Hair transplant starts to become comb-able
The hair will gain in thickness and in length and may also change in character. It generally takes a year to see the full results of a hair transplant.