Techniques compared
FUE vs FUT
Hair Doctors explains all the key features and differences.
- FU technique both methods work with follicular units
- FUT extraction via a strip of skin
- FUE single-graft extraction with the finest hollow needles
- Personal consultation which procedure suits you
Hair Doctors explains all the key features and differences
Both hair transplant methods are more important today than ever
The FU methods of modern hair transplantation ensure natural results
Modern hair transplantation is also known as the FU technique (follicular unit technique) because it works down to the smallest natural growth unit of hair: a so-called hair group or hair follicle (also known as a graft). This means that a graft consists of exactly one natural hair group, and in an FU hair transplant many of these hair groups are transplanted individually and independently of one another.
This makes these FU techniques not only the most advanced and safest methods of tackling visible hair loss today. Their results are also by far the most natural and therefore virtually indistinguishable from the appearance of the body’s own hair growth.
The biggest difference between FUE and FUT lies in how the donor hair is taken from the back of the head
So if the techniques used today are so similar, what is the big difference between single-graft extraction, or the FUE method, on the one hand and the strip technique, or FUT method, on the other? Read here how the two internationally recognised techniques in modern hair transplantation work and which key differences to bear in mind in Hair Doctors therapy:
Key features and differences
FUT and FUE side by side
| FUT method / strip technique | FUE method / single-graft extraction | |
|---|---|---|
| How exactly is the extraction done? | Via a strip of skin about 1 to 1.5 cm wide and up to 20 cm long from the fringe of hair at the back of the head | Individually, using the finest hollow needles and jeweller’s forceps. |
| What is the maximum number of grafts per session? | For aesthetic and medical reasons, about 3,000 hair follicles or about 6,600 individual hairs. | To avoid excessive scarring after the treatment, about 2,500 grafts or 5,500 individual hairs. |
| What hair density is possible? | Tends to achieve higher hair density. | Tends to achieve slightly lower density, partly due to a slightly lower survival rate. |
| When will you look presentable again? | After about 14 days. | After about 7–10 days, although shaving the back of the head, if required, can delay this somewhat. |
| When can you do sport again? | After 3–4 weeks. | After 2–3 weeks. |
| How long does the treatment take when transplanting approx. 2,000 grafts? | About 5–7 hours. | About 6–8 hours. |
| Does the back of the head have to be shaved? | Only at the site where the strip is taken. The strip is removed, and the suture then joins the edges of skin covered with natural hair. As a result, the shaving is not visible. | Yes. |
| Do scars form in the donor area? | A narrow scar that is closed aesthetically. Our trichophytic suturing technique allows hair to grow through it and makes the scar inconspicuous. | Barely visible scars; however, a tiny micro-scar forms for each follicle extracted, which closes again by itself and is not visible to the naked eye. |
| How many treatments will the donor hair allow? | 3–4 sessions are usually possible. Even after a follow-up procedure, there is usually only one scar, because the old scar is removed during the treatment. | 2–3 treatments are possible, more in combination with previous FUTs. Even in the first treatment, extracting the grafts causes scarring around neighbouring grafts, which makes follow-up treatments more difficult. The number of micro-scars then increases accordingly. |
| What is the survival rate of the transplanted grafts? | Usually 95%. | Usually 90%. |
| How extensive is the injury to the scalp in terms of area? | Relatively low; the scar is confined to one area. | Somewhat higher, because the trauma is spread over the entire donor area. The innovative Hair Doctors technology reduces the injury to the scalp surface by up to 40%. |
| How long does it take to extract the grafts? | Approx. 30 to 45 minutes. | Usually several hours. |
| Which technique gives the best result with light hair? | Extracting the grafts is highly reliable, because the hair follicles can be separated from one another in the cross-section of the strip of skin. | The loss rate during extraction is somewhat higher than with very dark hair. |
| Can very tight skin cause problems? | Yes. It may further limit the number of grafts that can be extracted from the back of the head. | There is usually no restriction on extracting the donor hair. |
| How aesthetic is the result? | Generally no restrictions at all. The scar is covered by the hair on the head. | The donor area at the back of the head thins slightly. Small dot-shaped scars may occasionally occur. |
The right procedure depends on your needs
Hair Doctors recommends the right method for you
Our Hair Doctors team, specialised in hair transplants, will be happy to advise you personally and in confidence on the procedure best suited to you. Our experts are available throughout Germany for video consultations, or will gladly take the time to advise you in person at one of our specialist centres for hair transplants and hair preservation.
It is the Hair Doctors philosophy to give you an honest, comprehensive and realistic assessment of the solution to your individual hair situation. – Find out more now, with no obligation. You can reach us on 0800 87 87 888 (free within Germany). Alternatively, you can send us a self-assessment of your hair situation by email in advance.
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The methods in detail
Which method is right for you?
From robot-assisted hair transplants to scalp pigmentation – we will find the right method for you together in a 1:1 consultation with no obligation.
ARTAS® iX
Robot-assisted extraction with artificial intelligence
Hair Doctors FUEplus
Our gentlest method with finer incisions
FUE
Grafts extracted one by one from the donor area
FUT
Strip method – no shaving needed
Scalp micropigmentation
The look of a shaved head – without surgery
Personal 1:1 consultation, no obligation
In person or conveniently by video.
In two consultations we work out with you which treatment suits you.