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.
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