Strip Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)
Hair Transplant Technique
In Strip FUT, hair follicles that exist in abundance in the back and sides of the head are painlessly removed along with the skin and re-implanted into the thin and balding areas. After a few days the hair follicles heal permanently into the skin and after a few months hair grows out of the new location. Once grown out the hair may be cut, styled, and washed just like the hair that used to be there. With Strip FUT, thousands of grafts may be moved in a single session providing a major cosmetic improvement after just one visit.
The Steps
01
Numbing
To begin with, the donor area is numbed with Lidocaine 2% Local Anaesthetic - the same type used in dental procedures. A tiny needle is used and patients often describe them as little more than 'pokes' or 'pinches'.
03
Making the Recipient Sites
After a bite to eat and a bathroom break, the recipient area is numbed with the same local anaesthetic. Custom cut blades (personalised to the patient) are used to make tiny slits in the scalp to insert grafts into.
02
Removing the Donor Strip
Whilst watching TV, reading the newspaper or browsing their phone, the patient's donor strip (at the back and sides of the head) is painlessly removed by the doctor. Once the strip is given to the technicians for processing, the wound is stitched or stapled closed.
04
Placing the Grafts
Once the recipient sites have been made, the grafts (that were dissected under high powered microscopes by the team of technicians) are inserted into the slits. Patients usually sleep or watch TV during this time since no pain is felt.
*Quality Control & Accountability*
Quality control is at the core of this procedure. At any given time each technician is constantly monitoring the work of the others and working as a true professional team to ensure the best possible results.
The doctor is constantly monitoring all aspects of the procedure as well, takes photographs and video that will be scrutinized as the procedure progresses. All these photos and video are available to the patient as well so they can see for themselves what was done during their visit. This represents a level of transparency and surgical accountability few hair transplant clinics in the world can claim. We are so sure that the work performed in our clinic is absolute top shelf that we are willing, with the patient’s permission, to post these photos and videos online for the world not only to see, but comment on publicly as well. This protocol was invented at Feller and Bloxham and only the very best clinics offer it.
Post-Op Period
After 10-14 days, the patient's sutures or staples are removed and the growth awaits!
At 1 month post-op - the transplanted hairs will have shed - this is normal and expected.
At 3 months - the beginnings of growth may begin to show.
At 6 months - it is usually assumed that 50% of overall growth is achieved. At this point, patient's often experience a significant transformation compared to pre-op.
At 12 months - full growth is achieved. At this point, we look forward to 100% of transplanted grafts having popped through - but maturation of the hair is still expected beyond the 12th month.
At 18 months - end result is achieved. The maximum number of transplanted hair roots have grown, and full maturation of the hairs reached.
Note: follow-up is recommended in ALL cases to ensure proper healing and monitor growth.
Typical 'Buzzcut' appearance of a well-washed transplant after 10 days
