FUE vs Neograft vs ARTAS

What Is FUE Hair Restoration?

FUE, also called follicular unit extraction, is one of the best options for hair restoration available. It consistently produces natural-looking results and has one of the shortest recovery times in hair transplantation.

FUE extracts individual hair follicles and transplants them into areas of the scalp that require additional fullness. Since follicles are individually removed, there is no linear scar. The small incisions heal quickly, dramatically reducing downtime after hair restoration and allowing patients to return to work, exercise, and sports in adays.

What Is the Linear “Strip” Method for Hair Restoration?

The linear method for hair restoration proposes another option for adding fullness to the hairline. This method is also called FUT, or follicular unit transplantation. Years ago, FUT was the primary method of hair restoration. Now, many patients prefer FUE for hair restoration.  At Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery, we only use the FUE technique.

In FUT, a long strip of hair-bearing tissue is removed from the back of the head. This tissue is divided into individual hair follicles or grafts. These grafts are used to restore the hairline and add fullness.

One significant advantage of FUT is the ability to obtain thousands of grafts quickly. This method is often used when patients have extensive hair loss. For those patients requiring more than 3,000 or 3,500 grafts in a single sitting the FUT procedure may be ideal.

A potential disadvantage of FUT is the linear scar that it creates. While this scar is easily hidden under the hair, it is visible when patients wear shorter hairstyles. Most FUT patients choose longer hairstyles on the sides and back of the head to hide any scarring that occurs.  

FUT also has more activity restrictions; patients must be careful of the large linear scar while it heals and avoid strenuous activities for several weeks. Additionally, the long incision can cause more discomfort for some patients.