Follicular Unit Transplantation vs. Follicular Unit Extraction
By Sara Wasserbauer | Published on August 4, 2010 | 0 Comments
When some people think of hair transplant surgery, they tend to imagine a rather gruesome procedure resulting in bleeding, heavy bandaging, and scarring galore. Fortunately for hair loss sufferers, this notion couldn’t be further from the truth. Though undergoing a hair transplant may not necessarily be an enjoyable experience, it is certainly not as horrific or painful as some might expect it to be. In fact, advances in the world of hair restoration have made today’s transplantation procedures more effective but also much easier on patients.
When it comes to hair transplants, the most popular option among patients today is Follicular Unit Transplantation. Often referred to as “strip surgery,” this method of transplantation allows physicians to move the maximum amount of hair possible within a single surgical session. Sara Wasserbauer M.D. is a Diplomate of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery who runs her own hair transplant clinic in Walnut Creek, California, and according to her, with Follicular Unit Transplantation, she can often transplant up to 5,000 hairs over the course of a day, depending on the patient and amount of donor hair involved. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), by contrast, is another method of transplantation that produces remarkable results, but only allows for the transfer of about 1,000 to 2,000 hairs in a single session.
So what’s the downside of Follicular Unit Transplantation? According to Dr. Wasserbauer, Follicular Unit Transplantation does produce a thin linear scar, which is easier to detect with a shorter haircut, whereas Follicular Unit Extraction tends to leave patients with miniature “bb” size scars that are difficult to detect even with a very short haircut. Those who prefer to wear their hair very short may be advised to opt for Follicular Unit Extraction, but otherwise, the amount of scarring produced by a well trained hair transplant doctor performing Follicular Unit Transplantation tends to be faint and barely noticeable.
Another thing for patients to consider is the fact that Follicular Unit Transplantation is a far less tedious process than Follicular Unit Extraction. Since Follicular Unit Transplantation allows the surgeon to move more hair, the restoration process tends to take much less time. Follicular Unit Extraction, on the other hand, often requires multiple sessions to mimic the results of a single Follicular Unit Transplantation procedure.
When evaluating their options for hair restoration surgery, patients will also need to take cost into account. Follicular Unit Transplantation is clearly the more economical option compared to Follicular Unit Extraction, as it doesn’t require the same amount of time or number of sessions. In fact, this is one of the reasons why most patients, in Dr. Wasserbauer’s experience, tend to opt for Follicular Unit Transplantation.
All in all, the important thing for patients to remember is that both options for hair restoration have the ability to truly work wonders. So no matter which method a patient chooses, as long as their surgeon is qualified, they are likely to be thrilled with the results.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.