Hair transplantation is a permanent solution for individuals who have suffered from hair loss and would like to have their hair restored.
If you are ready to find out more about the FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) hair transplant process, read on to learn more about the FUT technique, hair transplant cost, results, and recovery below.
- What should I know about the FUT hair transplant?
- What is a FUT hair transplant?
- What is the surgical procedure for a FUT hair transplant?
- FUT surgery: step-by-step guide
- FUT results
- How much does a FUT hair transplant cost?
- FUT hair transplant recovery
- What are the side effects of having a FUT hair transplant?
- Is FUT better than other types of hair transplants?
- How long do FUT hair transplants last?
What should I know about the FUT hair transplant?
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) is a popular hair transplant technique that yields excellent hair restoration results. The FUT surgical procedure takes less time than the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplantation procedure. However, the recovery time for a FUT transplant tends to be longer.
It should be noted that, unlike other treatments for hair loss, a FUT hair transplant is a permanent procedure that will give individuals who suffer from hair loss the lifelong results that they’ve been looking for.
Most hair transplant clinics in the UK will charge approximately £4,500 on average for a FUT hair transplant. However, these costs may vary depending on the location of the clinic and how many hair grafts a patient will need to restore their hair to their liking.
What is an FUT hair transplant?
Dr Umear explains what FUT is, how it works, and what to expect from strip surgery.
What happens on the day of FUT surgery
Dr Peter talks through what to expect on the day, from pre-op to donor and recipient area preparation.
Is the graft amount the same in FUT & FUE?
Discover why graft take is similar in both FUT and FUE from our technician, Evgeniya.
What is a FUT hair transplant?
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) is a hair restoration technique used to remove healthy hair follicles from one area of the body and transplant them to a spot where hair is sparse, balding, or thinning.
While FUE hair transplants are the most popular method, more than 21% of male patients and 42% of female patients choose a FUT hair transplant [1].
FUT leaves some light scarring around the back and sides of the head. So it’s more popular with people who wear their hair long. That’s why it’s a common choice for female hair transplants.
What is the surgical procedure for a FUT hair transplant?
The FUT procedure involves surgeons removing a strip of skin that contains healthy hair follicles from a safe donor site on your scalp. A safe donor site is an area where the hair follicles are unaffected by male-pattern baldness or female-pattern hair loss. This is usually the back or side of the scalp. This strip of skin is then dissected into individual hair grafts.
Your surgeon will then make small incisions in your balding areas and transplant these grafts into the cuts. As the cuts heal and the grafts settle, the transplanted hair will begin to produce new hair growth.
FUT surgery itself takes just a few hours, but the growth process takes several months.
FUT surgery: step-by-step guide
Here’s a step-by-step guide to what happens before, during and after FUT surgery:
1. Initial consultation
The first step is to check you’re eligible for a hair transplant, and to determine if a hair transplant is the most suitable treatment for you.
Your consultant can conduct a thorough hair and scalp exam (and perform hair loss blood tests if necessary) to understand why your hair is falling out and ensure you’re a good hair transplant candidate.
2. Designing your hairline
Hairline design is a key element when it comes to creating a natural result. It’s important for your new hairline to follow the original, creating a natural-looking, age-appropriate result.
Your consultant and surgeon should be realistic about the results you can expect. If you have extreme hair loss (stages 5+ on the Norwood Scale), a full head of hair may not be possible. However, you can still increase hair density in targeted areas.
3. Surgery preparation
On the day of surgery, your consultant and surgical team should answer any last-minute questions you have, then get you ready for the procedure.
Your scalp will be prepped with a local anaesthetic to fully numb the areas. This makes FUT surgery a virtually pain-free procedure. You can also have a sedative if you’re feeling tense or nervous.
4. Extraction and transplantation
The surgeon and technicians will start your FUT procedure by removing the strip of skin from your donor area. They’ll then cut this into individual grafts (clusters of 1-5 individual hair follicles).
When the grafts are prepared, the team will transplant them into your thinning areas.
5. Post-procedure care
The team will patch up your head after the surgery and give you thorough hair transplant aftercare instructions for the first few days.
FUT results
FUT creates amazing results that are indistinguishable from your natural hair and can help fix a receding or messed up hairline. Here are the results for previous Wimpole Clinic FUT patients:
See our extensive catalogue of before and after hair transplant photos to see more FUT results.
How much does a FUT hair transplant cost?
The cost of a hair transplant differs from clinic to clinic. Ultimately, the cost comes down to the number of hair grafts you need, and which clinic you choose.
While some clinics offer hair transplants at very high prices, you don’t need to pay over the odds to get a great hair transplant. Equally, avoid clinics with too-good-to-be-true prices, as they could be cutting corners with safety and quality.
At the Wimpole Clinic, FUT prices start at £3,499.
Across the UK, the average cost of a Norwood stage 2-3 hair transplant is £4,820. Learn more about getting a good-value hair transplant in our hair transplant cost analysis.
FUT hair transplant recovery
It’s important to take special care of your FUT hair transplant in the days and weeks after surgery. Poor aftercare can lead to a failed hair transplant.
Here’s everything you need to know about looking after your grafts during the hair transplant recovery process.
How long does it take to recover from a FUT hair transplant?
It’s around a week before you can get back to your normal activities after a FUT hair transplant surgery, and several months before you’ll see any new growth from your transplants. See the full hair transplant recovery timeline for more information.
How should I sleep after FUT hair transplant surgery?
Try to sleep with your head tilted upwards using a travel pillow or similar. It may not be the most comfortable position, but it will prevent you from damaging or dislodging your grafts at night. Learn more about how to sleep after a hair transplant.
When can I wash my hair after FUT hair transplant surgery?
When washing your hair after a hair transplant, don’t put your head directly under strong water jets. Reduce the water pressure or use a cup to gently pour water over your head. Use your fingertips (not your nails) to massage the shampoo into your scalp. Then rinse your hair using the same low-pressure technique.
You might also be given the option to return to the clinic for a hair wash, which is a good way to get a thorough clean without worrying about dislodging your grafts.
Wimpole Clinic patients can get a post-surgery hair wash 3 days after their procedure.
How long does it take for hair grafts to secure after a FUT hair transplant surgery?
One study found that most hair grafts are anchored securely in place 9 days after a FUT transplant [2]. For the first week, there’s a high risk of dislodgement, so you need to be really careful during this period.
When can you get a haircut after a FUT hair transplant?
It’s safe to get a haircut after a hair transplant at around 3 weeks after your procedure, providing everything has healed up properly. If you still have scabs or soreness in the area, it’s best to wait until these have cleared up.
What are the side effects of having a FUT hair transplant?
Most patients experience at least one of the following side effects after FUT:
- Hair transplant swelling
- Hair transplant scabbing
- Itchiness
- Bleeding and weeping from the donor and recipient sites
- Shock hair loss (also known as post-transplant shedding)
These usually clear up after a few weeks, but if you’re concerned, seek advice from your clinic.
Is FUT better than other types of hair transplants?
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is the most popular type of hair transplant [1]. However, is it better than a FUT hair transplant? Here is a comparison between the two.
| FUE | FUT | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Suitable for most eligible patients | Suitable for most eligible patients; often recommended for Afro hair transplants and people with large areas of hair loss |
| Cost | Slightly cheaper than FUT | Slightly more expensive than FUE, as a larger surgical team is needed |
| Surgery time | Takes longer than FUT | Takes less time than FUT |
| Recovery time | Faster than FUT | Slower than FUE |
| Scarring | Virtually zero scarring | Some scarring from the strip wound |
| Results | Natural results; virtually impossible to tell you’ve had a hair transplant | Natural results; scarring may be visible through short hair |
Find out more about the difference between FUE vs FUT hair transplant surgery
How long do FUT hair transplants last?
FUT hair transplants are permanent. So if you take care of your hair, your transplant should last a lifetime. To make the most of your hair, you’ll need to:
- Manage ongoing hair loss — most men use Finasteride and/or Minoxidil to prevent further hair loss
- Live a healthy lifestyle — eating well and cutting out smoking can help your hair stay healthy
- Take care of your hair — don’t expose your hair to harsh styling practices or products.
If you are interested in learning more about our follicular unit transplantation treatments just get in touch to book a consultation.
One of our friendly patient advisors can answer your questions and discuss how we can help you with your hair restoration needs.
If you need any advice on what to ask, check out our list of questions to ask before your hair transplant that will help provide you with additional value in your consultation.
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