What Is Surgical Follicular Unit Transplantation?

Surgical hair transplantation is widely recognized as the gold standard for permanent hair restoration. This sophisticated procedure involves carefully harvesting healthy hair follicles from areas of your scalp where hair growth remains strong (called donor areas) and transplanting them to regions experiencing thinning or complete hair loss.

During this treatment, hair follicles from the back and sides of your head are genetically programmed to resist the hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is the primary cause of male and female pattern baldness. When these resistant follicles are moved to balding areas, they maintain their natural resistance and continue growing hair for a lifetime.

What makes this treatment so effective is that the transplanted hair behaves exactly like your original hair. It grows, can be cut, styled, and colored just like the rest of your hair. 

The results are permanent because you’re essentially moving your own hair from one location to another, rather than trying to create new hair or prevent further loss with medications.

Advanced Surgical Techniques

At Golden State Dermatology, we offer two primary surgical methods for follicular unit transplantation, each with distinct advantages depending on your specific needs, lifestyle, and restoration goals.

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

Follicular Unit Extraction, commonly known as FUE, represents the latest advancement in minimally invasive hair transplantation. This technique involves extracting individual follicular units of hair using specialized micro-punches that are less than one millimeter in diameter.

During an FUE procedure, your surgeon will use precision instruments to carefully remove individual hair follicles from the donor area. Each follicular unit typically contains one to four hairs, along with the surrounding supportive tissue needed for successful transplantation. 

The extracted follicles are then meticulously placed into tiny specific sites created in the balding or thinning areas. One of the most significant advantages of FUE is that it leaves virtually undetectable tiny scars scattered across the donor area. 

These microscars are so small that they become invisible once surrounding hair grows to just a few millimeters in length. This makes FUE a great choice for patients who prefer to keep their hair very short or who want to avoid any noticeable scar lines.

Strip FUT (Follicular Unit Strip Surgery)

Strip FUT, also known as Follicular Unit Strip Surgery or the “strip method,” is a highly efficient technique that has been refined over decades of use. This method involves removing a thin strip of scalp tissue from the donor area, typically from the back of the head, where hair growth is most abundant and resistant to hair loss.

Once the strip is carefully removed, our team uses high-powered microscopes to meticulously dissect the tissue and harvest individual follicular units. This process requires exceptional skill and experience to ensure that each follicle remains intact and viable for transplantation.

The primary advantage of Strip FUT is its ability to gather large numbers of grafts in a single session. This makes it a particularly good option for patients who need extensive restoration or who want to achieve maximum density in the shortest amount of time. 

While Strip FUT does result in a linear scar at the donor site, modern techniques and careful closure methods ensure that this scar remains very thin and easily concealed by surrounding hair. For most patients, the scar becomes virtually undetectable when hair is worn at normal lengths.

How Do I Know Which Technique is Right for Me?

The decision between FUE and Strip FUT depends on several personal factors. FUE is typically recommended for patients who prefer very short hairstyles, have concerns about linear scarring, or need smaller numbers of grafts. 

Strip FUT is often the better choice for patients needing extensive restoration, those who wear their hair at medium to longer lengths, or individuals seeking the most cost-effective approach for large-scale hair restoration.

During your consultation at Golden State Dermatology, your dermatologist will carefully evaluate your hair loss pattern, discuss your lifestyle preferences, and review your restoration goals to recommend the technique that will provide you with the best possible results.

What to Expect from Your Results

Both FUE and Strip FUT procedures create natural-looking results that last a lifetime. The transplanted hair will initially shed within the first few weeks after surgery, which is completely normal and expected. 

New growth typically begins around the third to fourth month, with significant improvement visible by six months and full results apparent within 12 to 18 months.

The beauty of surgical hair transplantation lies in its permanence and naturalness. Once fully established, your transplanted hair will grow continuously and can be treated just like your original hair. You can wash it, cut it, style it, and even dye it without any special precautions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do the results of hair transplantation last?

Hair transplantation results are permanent. The transplanted follicles are genetically resistant to DHT and will continue producing hair for your lifetime, just as they would have in their original location.

Is hair transplantation painful?

Both FUE and Strip FUT procedures are performed under local anesthesia, so you’ll feel minimal discomfort during the surgery. Most patients describe any post-operative discomfort as mild and easily managed with over-the-counter pain medications.

How long does the procedure take?

The duration depends on the number of grafts being transplanted. FUE procedures typically take 4-8 hours, while Strip FUT can often be completed in 4-6 hours. Larger sessions may require multiple days.

When can I return to normal activities?

Most patients can return to desk work within 2-3 days. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for about two weeks to ensure proper healing. Your surgeon will provide specific guidelines based on your procedure and healing progress.

Will people be able to tell I had a hair transplant?

When performed by experienced surgeons, hair transplantation results look completely natural. The transplanted hair grows in the same direction and pattern as your original hair, making it indistinguishable from non-transplanted hair.

Am I a good candidate for hair transplantation?

Good candidates typically have sufficient donor hair, realistic expectations, and stable hair loss patterns. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate your specific situation and determine if surgical hair restoration is right for you.

Schedule your personalized consultation with Golden State Dermatology today to discover which hair restoration technique is right for you.