Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
With an FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant), follicular units – which naturally occur in groups of one to four – are harvested from a strip of scalp removed from the donor area on the back of the head. Once that procedure is completed, the incision is sutured, leaving a very small linear scar after it heals.
Technicians carefully remove the follicular units from the scalp strip by dissecting them under a stereo microscope using a two-stage process. First, they cut the scalp strip into slivers. Then, they dissect the follicular units from those slivers. Technician skill and expertise has a direct impact on how many follicular units are harvested.
How it Works
Why Choose DiStefano?
At DiStefano, our technicians have an average of ten years’ experience with our practice. Under top, high level physician training, they have honed their skills to increase the overall graft yield from a strip of scalp by approximately one third. For our patient’s, this means getting the best possible graft yield for your investment.
Comparing FUT and FUE
While results for growth will be almost identical between an FUE and FUT procedure, the two do have some key differences.
The extraction of hair follicles for FUT patients will require a line of sutures that take a short time to heal. With FUE, individual grafts are harvested one by one, which does not require a linear incision on the back of the scalp. During an FUT procedure, we can harvest 3000+ grafts in one day. However, due to the FUE being an individual per graft basis, we can normally harvest 1800-2000 in one session.
When it comes to scarring, it’s difficult to avoid scars entirely. The FUT procedure typically leaves behind a thin, linear scar on the back of the scalp. This is camouflaged by leaving the length of your hair in back at a length of a “2” or higher on a pair of clippers. Alternatively, an FUE procedure creates tiny dots that are spread out over the donor area. These tiny dots are almost always hidden when the hair regrows to a “buzz cut” length. Typically, the sites harvested during an FUE leave almost zero scarring behind.
AMAP Mega Sessions Available!
For patients with extensive hair loss, or who only want to have one session, the best hair transplant option is AMAP, which means as many as possible. It is simply a hair transplant session where as many grafts as possible are transplanted in a single session. Currently, DiStefano hair restoration surgeons are able to transplant up to 4,000 grafts in a single session.
AMAP advantages:
- Lower Cost
- Less Recovery Time
- Faster Results
- Better Graft Yields
These AMAP mega sessions are ideal for patients that want to cover large transplant areas and don’t wish to come in for multiple sessions. A single AMAP session also costs less than multiple sessions and the results are more immediate.
How Many Grafts Do You Need?
Try out our hair graft calculator to get an estimate of how many grafts you may need to achieve your desired result. Simply select the areas you would like to work on. Please note this is a rough estimate; you will need to come in for a consultation to get an exact number.
Choose Gender:
Select The Areas of Hair Loss
Using the interactive graphic below, click on the areas that you believe are currently affected. (If using mobile, pinch to zoom to better select the areas)
You Will Need:
0 - 0 Grafts
What to Expect During Recovery Time
Soon after the procedure is completed, you can head home for some rest and relaxation. We’ll provide you with a post-op kit including simple instructions to help ensure the best possible outcome. These include:
- How to sleep
- How to protect your scalp from sun damage and other external conditions
- How to wash your hair
- And more
Your post-op kit also will include a scalp cleanser, a special shampoo and conditioner, and other helpful items. Plus, our team of transplant professionals will prescribe oral medication to help alleviate minor pain or discomfort.
Not everyone heals at the same rate, but most of our patients report being able to return to work and other normal activities within a few days. Also be advised that hair in the donor area will be short for two weeks or more as it trimmed closely to the scalp.
How long will it take for hair to start growing in the host area? Typically within three to four months, with more aesthetically pleasing results visible after about six months. After about eighteen months, you’ll look as if no hair loss had ever occurred – just your previous, natural-looking self.
We’re here to support you from the initial consultation right through surgery, recovery, and beyond. Contact us today to learn if FUT is the right procedure for you.
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