Hair Transplant - FUE vs FUT

Research shows that androgenetic alopecia is the primary cause of hair loss in men, leading to 95% male pattern baldness in male individuals. The American Hair Loss Association reports that about 25% of men who have androgenetic alopecia lose their hair at a young age.

About 66% of men age 35 experience some degree of male pattern baldness, and about 85% of men experience thinning hair by the age of 50. Different hair loss treatments include medications, such as minoxidil and finasteride, low-level laser therapy, and hair transplant surgery.

Follicular unit extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplant (FUT) are two common hair transplant surgical techniques. In today’s article, we will discuss FUE and FUT hair transplant procedures.

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

FUE is an effective hair transplant procedure that requires a surgeon to take hair follicles from your skin and move them to your body’s other parts where hair is thinning or absent. An experienced and qualified surgeon uses micro-punches for individual hair follicle extraction and moves them accurately, leaving no extraction signs behind.

You will see FUE hair transplant results in three to four months. A 2017 research study shows that FUE leads to 10-80% of the growth of the transplanted hair. Follicular Unit Extraction costs between $5,000 and 15,000 per session. Expect to pay up to $50,000 or more if you undergo multiple FUE sessions.

Although surgeons perform FUE hair transplants on the scalp, they can also do it for other body parts, including arms, legs, and genital area. Follicular Unit Extraction is an effective and safe hair transplant procedure with no or minor side effects, such as small white scars due to follicle extraction. Although the side effects are rare, some people may experience bruising, sensitivity, and inflammation.

Benefits of FUE

A 2019 research study highlights that FUE hair transplants have over 90% hair graft survival rates than other hair transplant methods. Because it follows the precision harvesting technique, it reduces trauma during the process of harvesting. Some of the benefits of FUE hair transplant are:

· Less visible scarring

· Minimum graft preparation

· A shorter recovery period

· Suitable for tight scalps

· No nerve injury risks

· Less bleeding

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)

A 2021 research report shows that hair loss affects 40% of women and 85% of men. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a minimally invasive approach that focuses on covering bald spots on your scalp.

During the procedure, an experienced surgeon cuts a skin strip from your scalp with a width of no more than 0.6 inches. The surgeon removes the individual follicles from the strip and re-inserts them into your scalp.

Bear in mind that the FUT hair transplant procedure is relatively quicker than other transplant methods, including FUE surgery. The surgeon will give you local anesthesia to numb your scalp, meaning you will stay awake during the transplant procedure.

The average cost of the Follicular Unit Extraction hair transplant is between $5,000 and 10,000. However, the price depends on different factors, such as the amount of transplanted hair, surgeon’s experience, and clinic’s location.

Benefits of FUT

A recent study shows that people over 25 years of age are good candidates for follicular unit transplantation because hair loss patterns rarely occur in younger people. FUT is the best transplant procedure for men with Norwood hair loss patterns.

A growing body of research evidence shows that men with this hair loss pattern usually respond best to FUT. Besides, hair transplant surgeons recommend the FUT procedure for those who need a large number of follicles grafted.

The operation time is relatively shorter than FUE, and you can see the results in 8-15 months. However, your hair will mature, thicken, behave, and appear like your original hair, making it an effective hair transplant procedure. Other benefits of FUT surgery are:

· Higher follicular survival rates

· Manageable recovery period

· Effective results with natural hair appearance

· No additional scarring

Final Words

A surgeon removes singular hair follicles from your scalp’s back and sides and transplants them into the affected area during the FUE procedure. On the other hand, FUT surgery requires the surgeon to extract hair follicles with a skin strip, leaving behind a linear scar at your scalp’s back. FUE has a success rate of about 90%, whereas the FUT success rate is 95-98%, making both effective, reliable, and convenient procedures for people with hair loss problems.

Pros and Cons of having a Hairpiece or Toupee

Many men wear a hairpiece or toupee to cover their baldness. A toupee is an important hairpiece made of natural or synthetic hair. A toupee is also known as the partial wig because it helps men cover partial baldness.

Men's wigs are always in demand because of their natural-like appearance. Men use liquid glue or special two-sided tape to hold in place the toupee with existing hair, especially on the head's back and sides.

Although hairpieces and toupees are mainly designed and manufactured for men, some women also use them for hair lengthening purposes. In today's article, we will discuss the pros and cons of having a hairpiece or toupee for bald men. Read on!

Pros of Toupee or Hairpiece

Men wear a toupee to hide their male patterns baldness quickly and efficiently. Research shows that hairpieces are suitable for men of all ages. Toupees are known as the best hair systems because you can style them as you desire.

You can dye, color, perm, or wash your toupee or hairpiece without any problems. Besides, it gives your hair a realistic appearance by making your hair look thicker and beautiful. Unlike other hair applications, a hairpiece is lightweight, meaning you won't feel the load on your scalp.

Appear like Natural Hair

The most exciting thing about wearing a toupee is that your hair will appear naturally thick and gorgeous. A tape or glue is an essential accessory used to hold this hairpiece for a long time. You can even wear it for a month.

Men who wear toupees made of 100% human hair achieve a natural appearance. It won't interfere with your day-to-day activities. You can even go swimming while wearing a toupee.

Breathable and Undetectable

The toupee's base is thinner and breathable, making it a safe product for men. Besides, a hairpiece made of 100% human hair is undetectable on your scalp even when you or someone touches your hair.

If you have a sensitive skin and can't use other hair products, you can use a hairpiece made of natural hair. However it may still cause scalp irritation, redness, or skin allergies in the long run.

Cons of Toupee or Hairpiece

There are various benefits of wearing a toupee or hairpiece to cover your baldness or scalp-related conditions. However, it has a few downsides, such as some products are not comfortable for men and do not fit their scalps.

Unnatural Look

A hairpiece made of synthetic hair won't align well with your hair, meaning you won't achieve a natural look. The problem worsens when you perform certain activities like swimming because your hairpiece will come off quickly. Experts say that this often happens when one wears a synthetic toupee with low-quality glue.

High Maintenance

Although you can clean the hairpiece in the shower, you have to remove it and scrub it to maintain your hairpiece. The purpose is to clean your toupee inside out and remove all the accumulated oils and adhesives.

Some toupees or hairpieces are made of a durable base material, and you can wear them for a long time. Research shows that hairpieces with monofilament durability and polyurethane adhesion can be worn for 4-6 weeks.

However, after the time has passed, you have to remove the hairpiece and then clean up the product and your scalp. Because this requires time and effort, many men don't like to wear a toupee.

Final Words

Although there are some good quality toupees in the market today, we recommend consulting with your primary doctor or a qualified dermatologist to make sure your scalp is healthy and capable of carrying a hairpiece or toupee as well as to make sure it won’t damage your skin in the long run.

Alopecia: Types, Causes, Treatment Options

Recent reports show that over 320 million Americans suffer from some form of hair loss. Among them, more than 20% are under the age of 30. It means every 1 in 5 people in the U.S is losing their hair. Studies show that hair loss conditions affect more men than women. In today’s article, we will talk about a common hair loss condition known as alopecia.

What is Alopecia?

According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), alopecia is an autoimmune characterized by fall out of hair in small patches. Although these patches are unnoticeable initially, they become apparent and identifiable over time.

A person suffering from alopecia has a compromised immune system, which attacks follicles and causes hair loss. According to MedlinePlus Genetics, the condition affects one in every one thousand people in the U.S. Although there are several types of alopecia, the most common types of this condition are androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata.

Types of Alopecia

Different alopecia types are alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia, alopecia totalis, traction alopecia, and Cicatricial alopecia.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia areata is a common hair loss condition and an autoimmune disorder that results in thinning hair, leading to patchy hair loss. Although the most obvious cause is genetic, some studies show that higher levels of stress hormones also trigger the condition.

Androgenic Alopecia

It is a type of alopecia that affects both men and women, leading to hair loss. The condition is called male-pattern baldness in men. Androgenic alopecia leads to a well-defined hair loss pattern that begins above both temples. The hairline forms an “M” shape over time. Studies highlight that androgenic alopecia has many causes, but in females, the condition is triggered by hormones, including ovarian cysts, contraceptive pills, menopause, and even pregnancy.

Alopecia Totalis

Alopecia Totalis is a skin and hair medical condition. It is quite different from alopecia areata that leads to complete baldness. Unlike androgenic alopecia that causes pattern baldness, the totalis leads to complete scalp baldness. Studies show that the cause of this condition is unknown, but the triggering mechanism is most often disturbances in the immune system.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia is a condition caused by external factors. For instance, several studies have reported that pulling on the hair repeatedly can cause traction alopecia. People can also develop this hair loss condition when they wear braids, buns, and tight ponytails. Besides, if you are using chemical products, including paraben and sulfate-based shampoos and heating products, your likelihood of getting the condition increases.

Cicatricial Alopecia

Also known as scarring hair loss, the condition is characterized by thinning and breakage of hair strands followed by scarring on the scalp. Researchers believe that the condition is caused by a group of rare diseases that directly affect hair follicles. As a result, your hair follicles are replaced by scar tissues, leading to permanent hair loss.

Causes of Alopecia

In general, alopecia has different causes because there are various types of hair loss conditions. However, the condition is most often believed to be caused by autoimmune disorders when the faulty immune system attacks hair follicles. Some of the common causes of alopecia are:

Genetics: Hereditary conditions or genetics is the most common cause of alopecia. For example, male and female pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, is widely associated with genetics.

Hormonal Changes: Alopecia is also caused by changes in vital body hormones. Hair loss in women is most often triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and menopause. It also occurs due to problems in the thyroid gland.

Medical Conditions: A growing body of research evidence shows that a compromised immune system causes conditions like alopecia areata. However, hair loss also occurs due to ringworm (scalp infections) and trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder).

Medications: Everyone knows that each medication or drug available on the market produces certain adverse effects. Medicines used for cardiovascular problems, hypertension, gout, arthritis, and depression have harmful side effects, including alopecia or hair loss.

Hair Products: The use of hair styling products such as cornrows, pigtails, ponytails, shampoos, gels, conditions, and hot-oil hair treatments can lead to hair loss. For example, traction alopecia is caused by the pulling of hair and the use of hair styling products.

Treatment for Alopecia

Research shows that there is no sophisticated treatment option for alopecia. However, the symptoms or intensity of the condition can be controlled by medication and homemade remedies. Some of them are:

Topical Immunotherapy: The treatment option is useful for people with alopecia areata. It involves applying chemicals to the scalp to cause an allergic reaction, leading to hair growth eventually. However, the therapy does not work for everyone.

Corticosteroids: These are drugs with anti-inflammatory properties to treat autoimmune diseases. Health professionals and dermatologists often give this drug through injections into the scalp. However, corticosteroids are also available in the form of pills, creams, and ointments. Although corticosteroids are effective, they take a long time to regrow hair.

Minoxidil: It is an effective treatment option for curing pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. Minoxidil is an FDA-approved drug used to treat hair loss conditions in men and women. It contains beneficial ingredients that stimulate hair growth. Some studies show that the medication may take about 12 weeks before a person sees hair growth. Remember, the treatment does not work for everyone. Therefore, it is best to consult your dermatologist.

Homemade Remedies: Although there is a need for more research, some studies show that essential oils or natural fruit or vegetable juices can treat alopecia. These include garlic juice, onion juice, almond oil, cooled green tea, coconut milk, honey, and rosemary oil. Apply a small number of oils or juices on your scalp and rub it for a few minutes. Leave it for some time, and then wash your hair with a natural shampoo.

Scalp Micro Pigmentation: Permanent and non-surgical effective scalp treatment where tiny micro size dots are tattooed onto your scalp to replicate your real hair follicles. Learn more here.