Overview of the FUT Procedure

All procedures performed at Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration are based on Dr. Bernstein’s pioneering Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) techniques. The essence of these procedures is that the hair is transplanted into the balding area as individual follicular units (naturally occurring groups of 1-4 hairs), so that it will look totally natural and be undetectable as a hair transplant.

The two techniques differ in the way the hair is harvested (removed) from the donor area in the back of the scalp. In FUTFollicular Unit Transplantation

In Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) a thin strip of hair is taken from the back and/or sides of the scalp and the area where the strip was taken from is sewn closed. The hair from above the incision covers the area so that it is not visible. The donor strip is placed under a series of special dissecting microscopes where the individual follicular units, of one to four hairs each, are carefully dissected into tiny grafts. These grafts are stored in a special holding solution and refrigerated while awaiting placement.

The recipient sites (tiny incisions) are made in the bald or thinning areas of the scalp using a fine-needle size instrument. Once the recipient sites are made, the follicular unit grafts are carefully inserted into the scalp. The 1-hair grafts are placed at the hairline, the 2’s immediately behind them and the larger 3- and 4-hair units are placed in the central, forelock area. The recipient site sizes are matched to the different size follicular unit grafts to facilitate healing and maximize the growth of the transplanted follicles., the hair is removed in a single, thin strip and then dissected into in individual follicular units using microscopes. In FUEFollicular Unit Extraction

In Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) a relatively large area in the back and sides of the scalp is shaved to approximately 1-mm in length. Instead of removing a single strip, as in FUT, a tiny circular incision is made around each follicular unit. The follicular units are then extracted, one-by-one, directly from the scalp. These grafts are stored in a special holding solution and refrigerated while awaiting placement in the bald or thinning scalp (the recipient area). The tiny wounds are left open to heal on their own.

As in FUT, recipient sites (tiny incisions) are made in the bald or thinning areas of the scalp using a fine-needle size instrument. The follicular unit grafts are then placed into these sites., the follicular units are removed directly from the back and sides of the scalp using a robotic device (see Robotic FUE).

All of our hair restoration procedures are performed under local anesthesia. Hair transplant sessions that use thousands of follicular unit grafts may take a whole day; however, the time goes by quickly. During the procedure, patients rest comfortably and can watch TV or a movie, take a nap, or chat with the staff.

The misperception that people may have of hair transplantation, where patients leave the office with their heads wrapped in bandages and have significant bleeding and pain, is from experience with the out-dated, plug techniques. In modern follicular unit hair transplants, patients leave the office with only a hat and headband and are able to shower and shampoo their hair the day after the hair restoration surgery.

Please visit the Hair Transplant Photo Journal to see exactly how a patient looks during his hair transplant surgery, in the post-operative period, and then over the weeks and months following the procedure as his new hair begins to grow.

Before Hair Transplant Surgery

Prior to your hair restoration procedure, we request routine blood tests including screening tests for HIV and Hepatitis. You should avoid alcohol, aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medications before your hair transplant, as these may increase bleeding. Of course, if by chance you smoke, this should be discontinued as well. The morning of your procedure, all you need to do is shower and shampoo, wear loose fitting clothes and eat breakfast without caffeinated beverages. For details see Before Surgery. »»

The Hair Transplant Procedure

The hair transplant is generally an all-day procedure performed under local anesthesia and light sedation. After you are sedated and your scalp is numbed, the doctor removes the donor hair via a long, thin strip. The strip is then subdivided and placed under microscopes for further dissection into individual follicular units of 1-4 hairs each. After all the hair is harvested, tiny recipient sites (needle-size incisions) are made in balding areas of the scalp. The follicular unit grafts are then placed into these sites using very fine instruments. Once all the grafts are placed, the scalp is cleaned, a tennis-band dressing is applied and the patient is set to go home. For details see The Hair Transplant Procedure. »»

After Hair Transplant Surgery

In FUT hair transplants, the procedure is visible for about a week to ten days after the procedure. Some patients cover the area with their existing hair and others choose to wear a hat when they are in public. Patients can resume normal activities the second day following their hair restoration surgery, although there are some restrictions on certain exercise, smoking, and drinking. New hair growth starts to appear 2 to 3 months after the hair transplant and the hair restoration is usually fully grown out (mature) in about a year. For details see After Surgery. »»

If you have read through all of the pages in this section and you still have questions about hair transplantation, please either contact us, or come in for a hair loss consultation to discuss your case with the doctor.