FUT Hair Transplant

FUE extracts individual follicles one by one, leaving tiny dot scars. FUT removes a strip of scalp tissue and dissects it into individual grafts, leaving a linear scar at the donor site. FUT allows more grafts per session and is often preferred for advanced hair loss. The two techniques can be combined across staged sessions to maximize total lifetime graft yield.

Dr. Truesdale uses a trichophytic closure technique in which the wound is beveled so hair grows directly through the scar line. At normal hair lengths (1 inch or more at the back), the scar is virtually undetectable. Patients who keep their hair very short at the back may notice a faint line.

FUT is ideal for patients with Norwood IV–VI hair loss who want maximum coverage in a single procedure. It is also appropriate for patients who want to preserve their FUE donor area for future procedures, or who wear their hair at a length that conceals a donor scar.

Yes. Many patients undergo FUT for their primary session to maximize graft count, then return for a subsequent FUE session from the remaining donor area. This staged approach allows patients to achieve the highest possible lifetime graft total.

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you feel no pain during surgery. There is typically more post-operative donor site discomfort with FUT than FUE — the donor area may feel tight and sore for one to two weeks. Oral pain medication is prescribed for the first few days.

Initial growth begins around months 3–4 after transplanted hairs shed and re-enter the growth cycle. Significant visible improvement is typically seen at month 6–8, with full final results at 12–18 months.

With the FUT (strip) method, all grafts are removed at once with the removal of the strip. These grafts are then separated into follicular units under a microscope. This completes the first half of the procedure and can sometimes be completed in as little as 2 hours. The second half — graft implantation — follows the same process as FUE.

You may feel a little sleepy or groggy after your procedure, so make sure someone is available to pick you up from the clinic to take you back home or to your hotel. Clear instructions will be relayed to both you and your caregiver about appropriate medications to take after surgery.

After your surgery, you may be slightly sore for a few days, but you will have medication to help with the sensation. Within 1 week, you will follow up with your doctor who will check your donor site and recipient site for any possible concerns. You will continue to follow up with your doctor at various intervals to monitor the progression of your new hair.

After the FUT procedure, there will be a very fine horizontal scar in the area of the donor site. Our surgeons use special suture techniques to keep your scar to an absolute minimum. At normal hair lengths, the scar is virtually undetectable.