What is a FUT hair transplant?

Follicular Unit Transplantation is a method in which a strip of the scalp is taken from the donor area - generally the back of the head. It then involves extracting from this strip individual hair follicles / follicular units under the microscope and preparing them for implantation. These Follicular Units, or FUs for short, grow in groups of 1 - 4 or sometimes even 5 follicles. The transplant material thus obtained is then implanted into a prepared recipient area. Hairs extracted this way retain their genetic information, growing again naturally in the recipient area after transplantation. To obtain the requisite number of hair follicles needed for the transplant to look natural, the patient's existing hair density in the donor area is determined as exactly as possible (density measurement). This is done by counting the number of FUs per square cm before FUT treatment and is the basis for determining the size of the strip of scalp to be removed. The strip of scalp (or any other area covered in hair) is then removed using a scalpel. This is done under local anaesthesia, meaning that no pain at all is felt.

Shaving instructions

There are several technical factors* that play a role in the creation of the recipient area and the subsequent implantation of the grafts. These include:

• When thinning areas are shaved off, “thinning” takes on a different meaning. Using loupes it will be seen that some follicular bundles are absent (and there are wider spaces between the remaining bundles) and that some bundles are significantly reduced in size. It is then possible to place new reception areas in place of the absent beams and next to the miniaturized beams to recreate the density. This can also be done in a uniform manner so that if the pre-existing hair eventually disappears due to progression of hair loss, the hair transplant can still look fairly natural. If the recipient area is not shaved, Dr. Feriduni divides the hair again and again looking for any empty spaces and trying to fill the spaces as best as possible.

• The hair leaves the scalp at an exact angle. The only way to get that angle exactly is to buzz the receiver's hair down. Transection of existing hair beneath the skin surface is possible if the incisions are not made exactly parallel to the surrounding bundles.

• When inserting grafts, the technical assistants can easily identify the recipient areas and ensure that all sites are filled. This way there is no damage to the existing hairs.

• If the hair is shaved, no manipulation of the existing hair is required at all. If the hair is not shaved, it must be combed through (hundreds of times) by the doctor who creates the recipient areas and again by the technical assistants who place the grafts in the sites. This repeated trauma of combing the hair over and over again can result in “hair shock”, a loss of existing hair. If this hair falls out after 2 to 3 weeks, it will take 2 to 3 months for it to grow back. Whereas if the hair was buzzed, it would grow from day one and continue to grow. A number 3 buzz cut often looks good 10 to 14 days after surgery and fits well to the recipient site.

* All these factors are relatively unimportant in a minor procedure where only 200-300 grafts need to be placed in the recipient area; but for larger numbers, the difference is enormous.

Preparation

In terms of preparation, this is almost the same as for a FUE hair transplant. However, physiotherapeutic preparation is also indicated for FUT treatment.

Scalp massage in preparation for a FUT hair transplant

The flexibility of the scalp is important for a successful FUT treatment. Therefore, the entire scalp should be massaged for 5-10 minutes in the morning and evening approximately 8 weeks before the FUT. This especially applies to the back of the head. It is recommended to do the exercises below regularly. These provide more flexibility to the scalp, which has several positive consequences for the FUT treatment:

• Dr. Feriduni can extract more hair follicles from the donor area in one session
• This reduces the tension of the scalp after the treatment
• The scars as a result of the FUT become better and thinner.