FUT Hair Transplant
Follicular Unit Transplanting (FUT) methods are the procedures used when hair is transplanted into the bald area on a head as individual follicular units which are naturally occurring groups of between 1 and 4 hairs. This technique ensures that the transplant looks totally natural and is barely noticeable.
There are two methods of hair transplant which are called Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). The differences between them are to do with the way the hair is removed from the rear of the scalp which is the usual donor area. In FUT, the hair is taken off in a thin, single strip and then dissected into a number of individual follicular units through the use of a microscope. In FUE, the follicular units are stripped straight from the sides and back of the scalp through the use of a robotic device.
During Follicular Unit Transplanting, the area that is to donate the hair is covered with absorb-able sutures or staples. The follicular units which each contain up to 4 hairs are carefully dissected from the strip taken from the donor area while remaining in their specific units. Any extra tissue is trimmed off the grafts and the skin in between them is then discarded. The grafts containing the follicular units are then organised into groups which contain up to 4 hairs.
The sites on the head that need hair are prepared by the specialist transplant surgeon by using an instrument which is similar to a 19 and gauge hypodermic needle. Perpendicular slits are made on these recipient sites. It is important to create the recipient sites correctly as this affects the appearance of the transplant including the angle of the new hair and determines the density and distribution too. Normally when preparing sites the specialist will ensure that the existing hair is considered so that cutting is not necessary. The longer the existing hair the easier it is to conceal the area that has transplants while the area is recovering.
As soon as preparation of the receiving sites is complete, the surgeon starts to position the grafts into the prepared sites. Some single hair follicles are placed in the hair line at the front in order to provide a natural, soft appearance and up to 4 hair grafts are positioned in the area of the which is the centre of the forelock so that maximum fullness is achieved. This requires the recipient to keep his or her hair still for the procedure.
Once the job has been completed, the graft’s position will be checked again for accuracy. A bandage is positioned in the area on the head to conceal the part that provided the donor hair and a hat or cap maybe worn to go home. The transplanted part does not need bandages.
At most FUT hair transplant clinics hair restorations take place using a local anaesthesia and some FUT hair transplant sessions that involve thousands of follicular unit grafts may take a whole day but the great thing about modern day FUT is that only a day or so after the procedure the recipient is able to shampoo and wash his or her hair as normal.
