Hair Transplant - FUT Hair Transplant Method

FUT Hair Transplant "Strip Harvesting Method"

The FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) strip harvesting method refers to the way hair is extracted for transplantation: From the densest area of the donor site, at the back of the head, approximately at the level of the upper part of the ears, a long, narrow strip is removed from ear to ear across the scalp with a simple, routine, superficial procedure. (FUT hair transplant, “strip” technique). In this procedure, only the strip area needs to be shaved, so there are no visible signs of the procedure immediately after surgery, as the length of the existing hair covers the suture line.
The scalp strip is dissected under high magnification, using a microscope, to extract the follicular unit grafts for transplantation.
Who might be recommended for the strip harvesting method: This traditional hair harvesting technique is primarily used when the patient has dense, strong, high-quality hair in the donor area, wears their hair longer, and does not wish to have it cut for the surgery. In everyday practice, it is mainly applied for women and older men.
For larger areas of hair loss, a combined hair harvesting technique (both FUE and FUT extraction) can be used simultaneously to extract more hair.

Hair trimming only in the strip area before the removal of the scalp strip

Suture line after strip removal

With hair combed over, the suture line is not visible immediately after a FUT hair transplant.

The removed piece of scalp does not cause any loss for the patient. The edges of the scalp wound are sutured together, so no hair loss remains, only a thin, soft scar line, which later becomes unnoticeable and unobtrusive in the hair. There are no visible signs of the procedure immediately after the surgery, as the surrounding hair completely covers it.

Images of scar lines after FUT strip hair transplant

In hair as short as 0.5-1 cm, the thin scar line is not visible; however, if someone shaves their head completely, it may become visible.
Since it is a superficial procedure, the risk of damaging important deeper nerves and blood vessels is completely ruled out in the hands of an experienced doctor!

Preparation and implantation of grafts

After scalp strip removal

The follicular unit grafts are individually cut from the strips under microscopic magnification

The scalp strip is then horizontally sliced under microscopic magnification

The small skin islands (grafts) contain 1-2, sometimes 3-4 hair follicles (follicular units). (This is where the English term “Follicular Unit Transplantation – FUT” comes from). So, the follicular units excised from the scalp are called grafts, and these are what get transplanted.

In hair transplantation, the donor area scar is treated with a special technique called a trichophytic closure (shortened to tricho). The skin at the edge of one side of the wound is trimmed diagonally, so after healing, hair grows through the scar, providing even better concealment! When the wound edges are joined in this way, the scar becomes nearly invisible.

Graft implantation: The follicular unit grafts prepared in this way are implanted using the standard procedure in modern hair transplantation into the balding area (regardless of the extraction method, whether FUT or FUE). You can find more details about the implantation of the extracted grafts on the page Implantation of Follicular Units and Grafts.

Scar line closed with tricho suture, not visible in the hair after healing

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