FUE vs. FUT: Which Is the Better Hair Transplant Method?

If you’re considering a hair transplant to restore your thinning hair, you aren’t alone. According to the latest research, about 85% of men and 40% of women are impacted by hair loss, and hair restoration offers the chance at a fuller head of hair. 

Two popular options for transplanting hair are follicular unit excision (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). Both types of transplants can restore your hair, giving you naturally thicker, fuller locks, but there are key differences.

At Honest Hair Restoration, we’ve helped hundreds of men and women struggling with hair loss at our Tampa and Bradenton, Florida, offices. Led by board-certified physician Martin Maag, MD, our care team carefully evaluates your scalp and discusses your goals before creating a personalized hair restoration plan for you.  

If you’re considering a hair transplant, keep reading to learn about the differences between FUE and FUT transplants and which provides the best results. 

All about FUE hair transplants

With an FUE hair transplant, each follicular unit is extracted from your scalp from the donor area. Dr. Maag chooses harvested hair from different parts of the donor area, so there isn’t any noticeable thinning.   

These follicles are prepped for implantation then transplanted into the areas of your scalp with thinning hair or baldness. Patients do need to shave the area of the scalp receiving the donor hair follicles. 

The procedure doesn’t leave visible scarring, making it ideal for patients who wear or may want to wear shorter hairstyles. You can expect some redness and soreness, but generally patients report very little pain after treatment. 

All about FUT hair transplants

Unlike FUE hair transplants, with FUT the surgeon removes a linear strip of your scalp from the donor region. The strip is then split into sections and prepped for implantation into the thinning or balding areas. 

With FUT, there’s no need to shave the donor area, but patients do have one long scar across their scalp. For these reasons, FUT is sometimes preferred for patients with longer hair (which can cover the scar) and who don’t want a drastic change in their appearance. 

The best hair restoration method

Ultimately, the best hair restoration method is the one that works best to meet your needs. Both FUE and FUT can improve your hairline and give you a fuller head of hair, but there are distinct advantages to the FUE method. 

Because of the advantages the FUE hair transplant provides, Dr. Maag and the specialists at Honest Hair Restoration use the FUE method to help our clients restore their hair. Most people with thinning hair are good candidates for FUE hair transplantation, but you do need to have enough donor hair available for use. 

Depending on your goals and your needs, Dr. Maag may combine treatment methods to give you the best results possible. 

Advantages of FUE hair transplant

If you’re a candidate for an FUE hair transplant, take a look at some of the advantages this hair restoration method provides:

• Unparalleled results: Because the hair follicles are extracted and inspected, only healthy follicular grafts are placed, giving you great results and a more distinguished hairline or fuller head of hair.
  
  
• Minimal scarring: Unlike FUT transplants, which remove strips from the scalp, the FUE scars are tiny and spread around your scalp, making them difficult to spot without close inspection — even for patients who prefer short hairstyles.
     
• Fast recovery: Since the FUE process doesn’t involve skin grafts or stitching, you’re able to return to your normal activities in a few days. And since the FUE transplant method is minimally invasive, you won’t experience much pain after your treatment.

Ready to learn more about the best hair restoration method for you? Contact one of our Tampa Bay Area offices, and schedule an appointment online or over the phone with the experts at Honest Hair Restoration.