Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) – Step By Step Demonstration

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) is one of the oldest hair transplantation techniques ever used for surgical hair restoration. Also known as strip removal method, FUT is different from the modern FUE method graft harvesting only, while the plantation phase is the same. Unlike the latter, in which the surgeon extracts each graft individually, FUT involves cutting a linear strip of hair bearing skin from the balding resistant area of the scalp – either back or sides of the head. The strip is then carefully dissected under a stereo-microscope to obtain follicular units of desired size for implantation. You may be finding it difficult to understand these technical terms. Here is a step by step guide to FUT Hair Transplant to help you understand the procedure in a non-technical way. Continue reading to familiarize yourself with the procedure.

1. Planning For Surgery

At The Hair Transplant Center, we ask our patients to reach the clinic early morning – around 8:30 am. It is necessary that you have a good breakfast. As you reach the clinic, you will be asked to fill a consent form for the surgery. Don’t worry; our staff will be there to help you with form filling. Then your will once again brief you about the procedure. Our photographer will also take photographs of your hairline, which we will use to demonstrate the before and after difference, following your surgery.

2. Designing Hair Line

The next step will be designing your hairlines. Keeping in mind your aesthetic goals and expectations from the surgery as well as your face cut, the surgeon will design your hair line. AN eyebrow pencil is used for this purpose. Designing a hair line prior to the surgery helps the surgeon to create a more natural looking hairline. The ultimate outcome of the surgery will depend a lot on your this hairline sketch. The more aesthetically drawn hair line you have, the more natural looking and aesthetically appealing results you will have.

3. Preparing For the Extraction

Unlike the Follicular Unit Extraction transplant, Strip Method Transplant does not require shaving of the entire donor area. The surgeon will just trim the area from where the strip is to be excised. The donor area will be then made numb by administering local anesthesia.

4. Harvesting Of Follicular Units

Once the donor area has been anesthetized, the surgeon moves on to donor hair harvesting. A linear strip of hair bearing skin is excised from the back or the side of the scalp – whichever has the healthiest hair. The resulting wound is then closed with the help of fine sutures.

5. Preparing the Grafts

The strip excised from the donor area contains thousands of hair grafts that need to be separated for implantation. This is done by the experienced technical staff. The strip is carefully dissected under a powerful microscope to obtain the grafts of desired size. Some fat and tissues are left behind with the grafts; it protects them from dehydration outside the human body.

6. Break to Have Lunch

Hair Transplant surgery is a time taking procedure, so a lunch break is mandatory. While the technical staff separates the grafts from the strip, you will be given a half an hour break to walk around in the clinic and have lunch as well. Lunch is provided by the clinic so you don’t need to pack a lunch box and bring it along to the clinic.

7. Follicular Unit Implantation

After the break, you will be taken back to the operation theater. Now the surgeon will administer local anesthesia to the recipient area. After that the recipient area is prepared for implantation of the extracted grafts. Using specially designed tiny blades (0.5-0.8 diameter) the surgeon creates tiny incisions in the recipient area at specific angles. The direction of these incisions will actually determine the direction of your transplanted hair; this is why it is considered as the most important phase of the surgery. Your surgeon should not have excellent surgical skills but also a commendable aesthetic sense to create a natural looking hairline. Once the recipient site has been prepared, the surgeon proceeds to the last step of the surgery, careful insertion of the follicular grafts into the incisions just created.

8. After The Procedure

The procedure in itself is virtually painless, courtesy local anesthesia, which is administered twice. However, expect to experience some pain and discomfort after the surgery – after all it was no less than a major surgery. Your scalp may remain sore and tender for 2 to 3 days following the surgery. The bandage at the donor area will be removed after a few days – our surgeon will guide you about this. In case of FUT hair transplant, a 5 to 7 days post-surgery bed rest is advised. So, make sure you arrange a leave well in time. After almost a week you will be allowed to resume all non-strenuous routine activities. The transplanted hair will first shed – from 4^th to 8^th week. This is known as shock loss which is just a normal part of hair transplant. Once the shock loss phase is over, you will notice hair regrowth in the transplanted areas. However, it may take more than a year before you will be able to full results of the hair transplant surgery.

If you are interested in getting FUT Hair Transplant in Saudi Arabia or Dubai, put your confidence in The Hair Transplant Center and you won’t be disappointed. To know more about the procedure, contact us now by filling the free online consultation form below and our experts will guide you.