In hair transplant operations, the biggest difference between the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) methods is the techniques they use during extraction of hair from the scalp. Follicular extraction procedure is made with different techniques in FUT and FUE methods. All the other stages are the same.
In the FUE technique, the follicles are extracted in groupings containing single or double hair follicles. In the FUT technique, hair follicles are harvested en masse and then turned into single or double hair follicular groups by the team of experts. However, since the follicles are harvested in a body in the FUT technique, there is the possibility of formation of a little scar in the donor area. Also, every patient is put to the same aesthetic stitches in the hair transplant operations, but the possibility of formation of a scar differs by the tissue- nutrition of patients. Unlike the FUT technique, in the FUE technique, no scar is formed in the area, i.e. the back of the neck, where hair follicles are extracted from. Also, in FUE, there is no difference between the transplanted area and your own hair.
Except for this difference, hair transplantation and anesthesia stages go on the same in the both techniques. About the details of the operation; in FUT method, hair follicles at the back off neck are extracted in a strip of skin with a length of about 15-20 cm and width of 2-2,5 cm. Afterwards, they are separated by under microscope and placed into the canals in the bald area and hair transplantation is performed.
However, in the FUE method, no surgical operation is needed. The hair is shortened down to number 0,5-1 approximately. And it is performed by extracting and transplanting hair follicles one by one with the help of special micro-motor punches. In brief, while the FUT technique leaves a surgical scar in the form of a strip, the FUE technique does not cause such a scar.
In the process after hair transplant operation, the donor site may be benumbed for about two weeks since the FUT method is a surgical operation. At the same time, the recovery may take up to 15-20 days. On the other hand, there is no numbing in the FUE technique and the recovery period may be 7 to 10 days. Also, the patient does not need to shorten his/her hair before the operation in the FUT technique. However, in the FUE technique, the patient needs to shorten his/her hair before the operation. Approximately 99% of the hair extracted with FUT technique can be transplanted, a loss of about 5-8% occurs during sorting out. In the FUE technique, 100% of the hair can be transplanted.