If you’ve done any research on hair transplants in the past, there’s a chance you’ve seen the FUT method, otherwise known as the Strip method, mentioned here and there. In case you aren’t familiar, though, these terms refer to what’s known as the traditional hair transplant procedure method, which countless people undergo every day. For reasons we’ll get into later, even as new methods have come into the picture, it’s remained a popular & vital option for many patients. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the ins & outs of the procedure & help to answer the question of whether it’s a fit for you and your hair.

To provide some initial context, FUT is short for Follicular Unit Transplantation, and “Strip” refers to a main aspect of the process, namely how the follicles being placed in your transplant area are obtained. Starting off the procedure, the hair in the back of the patient’s head is lifted up & taped in place, and the designated “donor area” is shaved, giving the surgeon access to the part of your scalp with the densest grouping of hair follicles. From there, the surgeon administers a local anesthetic & removes a thin strip of skin from the shaved donor area. Given the dense hair grouping, this is able to be neatly stitched up & be amply covered by the taped-up hair once it’s finally let down. 

After the strip of skin is removed, a team of assistants removes the follicles from it & processes them to be transplanted. The doctor creates new homes for each follicle in the designated transplant area, and then carefully places them in a dense, natural formation across the scalp. Once this is completed & the donor zone is stitched, the procedure is over. The patient only needs to come in for a follow-up the next day, and a few other times far later on, to start on the path to full results (with the help of some post-op instructions, of course).

Thanks to the process of graft retrieval via skin strip removal, patients can receive up to well over 4,000 grafts in one procedure, while those receiving FUE, or Follicular Unit Extraction procedures, are limited to around 2,500 in one procedure. This point leads us to the big question: who is a candidate for a FUT transplant? There are a few key factors you need to consider, namely the severity of hair loss, the condition of the donor area, and how you decide to wear your hair.

As we just mentioned, FUT procedures are designed to help surgeons obtain a large amount of grafts without putting follicles under extensive stress outside of the head. If your hair loss is approaching the later stages, then, it’ll make sense to opt for the procedure than can get you as close to your old hairline as possible. If you only need to fill in some spots here & there, though, the FUT procedure might be excessive, and a FUE transplant would be recommended instead. No matter what, though, the procedure can’t go on if you don’t have a donor area that can safely yield the needed follicles. If you had an especially botched FUT procedure in the past, for example, there’s a chance that your posterior scalp simply can’t be utilized, meaning that a FUE transplant must be performed instead. In that case, at least, the surgeon will be able to utilize areas like the chest as substitute donor areas. Lastly, although this isn’t an issue for many, you might also want to consider how you wear your hair when deciding what procedure to go through with. For those who wear their hair with a bit of length, the minimal scar is easily & neatly covered. If you prefer a buzzcut, though, or keep your hair similarly short in that area, a thin line might appear along the back of the head, although even this would quickly become unnoticeable as well. 

We hope you can see why FUT hair transplants have remained a popular & vital procedure for people around the world, especially for those deep in their battle with hair loss. If you believe you’re a candidate for a FUT transplant, the next step is coming down to Modena Hair Institute in Newport Beach, Las Vegas or Beverly Hills to make sure. Once you arrive, from wherever you are, Dr. Yazdan, a board-certified hair restoration surgeon with years of experience, will closely inspect your hair & help guide you in the right direction. He’s also the only one performing his hair transplant procedures, unlike many other clinic operators that solely rely on their assistants. This, combined with his team, technology & knowledge, allow Modena to stand out as one of the most reputable hair transplant centers out there today.

Read more about FUT hair transplants on our website, and schedule your consultation today.