Dr. Martain Loonen

Why FUT & FUE combine method considered the best for hair transplantation?

Why FUT & FUE combine method considered the best for hair transplantation?

Patients with hair loss may overlook early signs of baldness and become concerned when the bald area becomes noticeable. Those who are experiencing hair loss often turn to hair transplant

Hair transplantation can save a person’s life in these scenarios by covering the bald spot and minimising shame in personal and professional contexts. 

The two most common methods for hair transplant grafts are FUT and FUE. Depending on which procedure is picked and chosen for the patient, each has its own set of indications and constraints. The volume of grafts that must be harvested is an important factor in determining how the patient will use them.

The FUT hair transplant process is commonly undertaken when 3000-3500 hair grafts are necessary. FUE, on the other hand, is advised when 2000-2500 grafts are needed, such as in early baldness or facial hair transplants.

FUE hair transplant.

Each individual follicular unit is taken from the scalp during FUE hair transplantation. Hair follicles are extracted in a random pattern, allowing your doctor to collect hair from the donor area with less visible thinning. Hair is collected by small circular incisions on the scalp with Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).

A physician does a manual FUE hair transplant by extracting individual hair follicles with portable equipment. A robotic hair transplant equipment is used in a Robotic FUE treatment, which is supervised by the physician. The doctor determines the amount of hair to be harvested and draws a map of the chosen donor spot.

FUE process steps

An FUE process is carried out in the following ways:

The hair on the back of your head is shaved off. The surgeon next removes the hair follicles one at a time from beneath the scalp. Each follicle will leave a little scar. Hair follicles are grafted into small holes in the scalp, much like in a FUT procedure. Bandages or gauze are then applied to the surgical site.

FUT hair transplant

During Follicular Unit Transplantation, a long, thin piece of scalp tissue is removed. Stereo-microscopic dissection is used to remove individual follicular units from the strip. A single, extremely fine linear scar remains after the follicles have been collected 

FUT process steps

Surgeons take the following measures to perform FUT procedures:

A piece of your scalp is cut by the surgeon, typically from the back of your head. The length of the strip is normally between 6 and 10 inches, but it can go from ear to ear.

Stitches are used to close the wound created by the removal of the scalp.

Using a scalpel, your doctor and their staff will cut up the scalp strip into smaller pieces. Grafts can be as many as 2,000 in number. 

The surgeon makes small incisions on your scalp to prepare for the transplantation of your natural hair.

The hairs from the scalp that was taken are inserted into the puncture holes by the surgeon. 

They next apply bandages or gauze to the surgical locations.

The amount of grafts you get depends on the following factors your hair’s texture, density, thickness, and colour 

Combining FUE and FUT

A combination of FUT and FUE is advised in cases of advanced baldness, such as where one treatment is insufficient to supply the necessary grafts.

Previously, multiple sessions were required, but this process has proven to be quite effective at extracting a greater number of grafts in a single sitting. The combined method makes use of both FUT and FUE depending on the number of grafts required in a single session.

Why is FUE and FUT combined

Hair follicular grafts can be harvested in greater numbers using a combined technique than can be achieved using either procedure alone. One hair transplant session can harvest up to 4000 hair, which is enough for complete coverage of the head in cases of extensive baldness. After harvesting 3000-3500 grafts, FUT is followed by FUE to remove the rest.

For future sessions, the ideal outcome is the maintenance of hair follicular grafts while allowing for maximal graft harvesting while staying inside the safe zone. Using the combined approach, you’ll be able to minimise the drawbacks of each approach while optimising the strengths of each. By harvesting a very small strip of scalp tissue and completing trichophytic closure in the FUT process, there is no visible scarring. In addition, harvesting a small number of grafts with the FUE process reduces follicle damage.

Multiple grafts and single grafts are extracted in sufficient quantities to allow for selection and implantation at the appropriate spot while maintaining aesthetics and wider coverage.

Benefits of combing FUE and FUT

The combination procedure allows for the harvesting of a larger amount of grafts, making it ideal for those with significant balding.

When using a combination approach, follicular grafts are preserved even when harvesting a larger number of grafts. An advantage of FUT hair transplants is that they allow for permanent hair restoration. Because the grafts are preserved, it is possible to have up to three further sittings in the future. Overharvesting and donor area depletion could occur if several FUE sessions are performed.

The combination approach leads to visually appealing results since it reduces the risk of scarring following recovery. In FUT hair transplantation, the donor site is sutured, which results in virtually undetectable scarring. Hair grafts are removed at a distance with FUE hair transplantation, resulting in virtually undetectable scarring. Using the FUE procedure, several follicular grafts are planted around the linear scar generated by the FUT technique in order to hide the scar completely.”

For the combination procedure, a tiny strip of hair is removed, leaving about 2 cm of hair below it, and then FUE grafts are harvested from the hair below the hair that was removed. If you’re experiencing progressive hair loss or a significant amount of baldness, you’ll be able to reuse this two cm-long strip in future appointments.

When Body Hair Transplant (BHT) is used in conjunction with the combination procedure, the overall coverage area is increased.

In the hands of experienced practitioners, the damage rate to follicular transplants from the combination approach is less than 1%. Follicular grafts are not damaged during the FUT procedure since the dissection of the strip is done under high magnification, which provides clear visualisation.

Unlike the FUE technique, in which a punch is inserted into the scalp, and a graft is extracted, the follicular unit extraction (FUE) method uses a microscope to examine the follicles before extracting the graft.

You can’t go wrong if you use a combination technique conducted by an expert with an artistic sensibility. When baldness is widespread, a single graft obtained using either procedure will not produce the same high-quality hair transplant outcomes. 

Takeaway

In conclusion, the answer to the question ‘Why FUT & FUE combine method considered the best for hair transplantation?’ is that the combination hair transplantation allows for higher densities to be achieved in a single session, saving both time and money. Using this method, a patient can achieve a denser appearance in a single visit.

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