FUT Hair Transplant

FUT or Follicular Unit Transplant is a type of hair restoration surgery that involves harvesting a long, thin strip/line of healthy and hair-bearing skin and transplanting the strip on the area where significant hair loss has occurred. Usually, the strip is chosen from the scalp area where hair is genetically programmed to grow for life, thereby making the scalp immune to hair loss.

Instead of transplanting the entire strip in the scalp, it is divided into sections and then prepped for implantation into the targeted areas. This technique produces extremely successful results. It can improve your hairline and give you a head full of hair.

What happens in FUT?

The Follicular Unit Transplant technique involves taking a strip of skin from the back of the head. The size of the strip depends on how many hairs are needed to cover the bald spot. Typically, a strip of 1 to 1.5 cm (0.4 to 0.6 inches) wide is taken. Then, the individual hair follicle is removed from the strip and transplanted into the scalp.

FUT is a faster technique for hair transplantation. The steps involved in the procedure are explained below-

Local anesthesia is administered to numb the scalp region. The patient stays awake throughout the procedure but doesn’t feel any pain or discomfort.
The surgeon will mark the area of hair extraction and re-draw the hairline where the follicles need to be implanted.
Photographs of the scalp will be taken for the medical records. You will also be given an option to take a sedative before the surgery.
The hair length at the donor site is trimmed and kept around 2 mm to make it easier to cut out the skin strip.
The surgeon will then excise the strip of skin that will be used as a graft.
A technician will carefully take out the hair follicles from the strip and prepare for transplantation.
The scalp area from where the strip is taken is closed with sutures properly.
Small incisions are made in the recipient area, and the hair follicles are inserted using minuscule forceps. The surgeon makes sure that the hair follicles are inserted in a way that covers your bald area properly and looks natural.
Once all hair follicles are implanted, the surgeon will apply antibiotics to the scalp and cover it with bandages.

The entire procedure may take around 4 to 8 hours, depending on the number of hair follicles that need to be implanted.

How to prepare for FUT?

The preparation for hair transplant surgery usually starts 1-2 weeks ago.

The doctor will suggest that you stop taking vitamins and supplements that can thin your blood and increase the risk of bleeding.
Do not take aspirin or other non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs unless they are required.
Avoid drinking alcohol of all sorts, including wine, beer, or cider.
If you are on a diet, stop it. Dieting usually deprives the body of many essential nutrients that can affect your healing abilities. The body needs to be in an anabolic state to restore healing.
Prep the clothes that you will wear on the day of surgery. Preferably choose something loose and comfortable. Do not wear quality clothes, as the antiseptic used for the procedure can stain them.
Ask a friend or family member to accompany you as you won’t be able to drive yourself back home.
Wash your hair well the night before the surgery or in the morning.
Have your breakfast as usual, as fasting is not required for this procedure. But make sure that you eat healthy foods, not heavy or greasy items.

It is imperative that you follow the doctor’s instructions carefully before, during, and after the procedure to get the best results.

What to expect after FUT?

Immediately after the surgery, you will feel soreness, pain, discomfort, and tightness. The recipient area will be bruised, and the donor area will be covered with sutures and staples.

You will have mild to moderate pain in the treated area for the first few days, which will be managed with pain medications.
The scalp will be bruised and appear pinkish in color.
Swelling in the head and around the eyes will also start 2-3 days after the procedure.
The hair follicles will fix in the scalp properly as scab forms and over time.

You will see the results of the FUT hair transplant in the upcoming 6 to 12 months.

Who is a good candidate for FUT?

The most appropriate technique for hair transplantation is recommended to the patient depending on his/her profile. Mainly, men with androgenic alopecia (also known as male pattern baldness) are the best candidates for FUT. People with conditions like thyroid disorder or alopecia areata are not suitable candidates for this technique.

A person is considered a good candidate for a FUT hair transplant when he/she meets the following criteria-

The person’s age is above 25 years, as the hair loss patterns in younger people are less predictable.
You are a man with Norwood pattern baldness.
You have a good hair follicle density as it can provide better coverage to the bald area.
Hair loss is significant in the front part of the head.
Your hair color is similar to your skin, i.e., there is less color contrast between skin and hair color.

Benefits of FUT

The Follicular Hair Transplant (FUT) technique has the following advantages-

Natural Looking Results-As each hair follicle is transplanted carefully in the bald area, the resulting hair growth looks completely natural.
Minimal Scarring-In FUT transplant, very thin, linear incisions of 1 mm or less in size are made in the scalp. Once the skin heals, and the hair regrows, the tiny scars get concealed easily, and they become almost virtually undetectable.
Higher Rate of Follicle Survival-In this technique, the hair graft is taken from the area which has healthier and most permanent hair. During the procedure, the protective tissue is also kept intact to ensure that the grafts retain their quality and life.
Shorter Duration-The surgery can be performed quicker than FUE or other techniques of hair transplantation.

Cost-Effective Surgery- Though a large number of hair follicles are grafted in this type of transplant, the treatment is quite affordable.

Side Effects of FUT Hair Transplant

Complications associated with the FUT technique are rare. As the head gets ample blood supply, the healing is quick, and there are lower chances of developing an infection during or after the procedure.

Some side effects that may occur are-

Swelling or edema due to excess fluid
Inflammation of the hair follicles or folliculitis
Numbness in the recipient or donor area
Shock loss where the native hair falls off (usually temporary)
Cysts, specifically epidermal cysts due to ingrown hair

Some of these side effects go away on their own, while others may require attention. If you experience any or all of these side effects, talk to your hair transplant surgeon.

Dos & Don’ts After FUT

Dos

Cover your scalp properly while going out to avoid exposure to direct sunlight, dust, etc.
Elevate your head while sleeping to ensure that anything doesn’t rub against the scalp that can detach the grafted hair.
Starting washing your carefully with mild shampoo to ensure that the scalp doesn’t get irritated.
While washing your hair, leave the shampoo a little longer so that the scab will soften and can be washed away.
Use skin moisturizer to help with itching, if needed.
Starting wearing normal caps to cover your head after 3 months.

Don’ts

Avoid touching or washing your hair for the first 2-3 days.
Do not drink alcohol, as it can react negatively with some of the prescribed medications.
Do not smoke, as it can impair the healing process.
Avoid touching, scratching, or rubbing the recipient area for at least 4 days after the surgery.
Do not go out in the sun as it can cause sunburn and pigmentation on the scalp and can also damage the transplanted hair.
Avoid all types of strenuous activities for at least a month to prevent tension on the back of the head (donor area).
Do not cut or style the rest of the hair in the first few months or until approved by the doctor.

Recovery Timeline

The initial healing after the FUT hair transplant will take around 10-20 days. And the regrowth will take around 3-6 months.

In the first few days, you will experience discomfort as the transplanted and donor skin heals, and scabs will also start to form.
You will have to take one follow-up the day after surgery and another follow-up within 10-14 days. During this follow-up, the sutures in the donor area will be removed, and the doctor will examine whether the scalp is healing properly or not.
In the first month, some of the transplanted hair may fall off, which is completely normal.
Within 2-3 months, the transplanted hair will start to grow, but the hair will be thin and fine.
In the next 4-6 months, the hair growth will be more visible, and new hair with better thickness will also start to grow. The donor scar will also become mature by this time.

The hair will continue to grow and become thicker and longer as time goes by. You can start styling your hair as you like.