How Do FUT Hair Transplants Work?
Follicular Unit Transplantation is also known as the strip procedure. The procedure is carried out with a surgical hair restoration technique that uses follicular units, which are naturally occurring groups of one to four hairs. FUT hair transplants are a good way to revise a “botched” procedure, and provide overall restoration to a less-than-full head of hair.
There are many benefits that FUT hair transplants have to offer that include:
- A better yield of hair when compared to other hair transplant procedures
- A significant number of follicles can be transplanted in one session
- Natural-looking results
What Is the Procedure Like?
When it comes to FUT hair transplants, the most common donor area is the back of the scalp, due to the fact that these hair follicles are genetically programmed not to fall out. The donor area will be trimmed and the remaining hair will be taped to keep it away from the donor site. The donor area will be numbed with a local anesthetic. A strip of donor tissue will be removed, and a specialized microscope (known as the Ziering Scope) will be used to dissect the donor tissue and prepare the individual follicular units.
The individual follicles are then transplanted and placed in a way that mimics natural hair growth patterns. The follicular units will vary in density. The smallest hair grafts, which are one to two units, will be placed at the front of the hairline with three- to four-hair grafts placed further back.
Immediately following the transplant, you will notice short hair stubble emerging from the new hair grafts. While this hair stubble will typically fall out about five to seven days following the procedure, the transplanted hair follicles will stay in the scalp. New hair will begin to grow about four months after the procedure.
It is important to refrain from taking aspirin and vitamin E for about 10 days before the procedure. For three days before the procedure, you should not take anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, but you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if needed. Our professionals can give you any additional guidelines to follow if needed.
Recovery after FUT Hair Transplants
Most individuals will have the sutures removed 10 days after the procedure, which is when most patients can resume their normal activities. Here are some aftercare instructions that you may be given after the procedure:
- Refrain from alcohol for the first 24 hours after the procedure
- Avoid bending over for the first 48 hours
- Try to keep your head elevated for 48 hours after the procedure to prevent swelling
Would you like to find out more about FUT hair transplants? We welcome you to speak with the professionals at Ziering Medical to learn more about this procedure. We have offices in Las Vegas, Chicago, NYC, Newport Beach, and Beverly Hills. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!