Strip Harvesting Follicular Unit Transplantation Versus Follicular Unit Excision: Comparing the Number of Hairs and the Ratio of Hairs to Follicular Unit

Abstract

BACKGROUND There are 2 extraction techniques for follicular units (FUs) in hair transplantation: strip harvesting follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and follicular unit excision (FUE). Currently, no extant studies have demonstrated that one technique is superior in extraction and donor area optimization for a dense result. OBJECTIVE This study compares the FUT and FUE techniques by evaluating the percentage of FUs with 3 or more hairs and the hairs-to-follicular-unit ratio in patients who underwent both procedures at different times. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical records of patients who underwent at least 1 FUT procedure and at least 1 FUE procedure (with this being the second surgical procedure) were reviewed. The surgeries were performed in the same clinic with the same surgeon and surgical team. RESULTS There was a higher percentage of FUs with 3 or more hairs and a higher hairs-to-follicular-unit ratio with the FUE technique than with the FUT technique. CONCLUSION In FUE, surgeons tend to choose better-looking FUs with thick, plentiful hairs. Even with these results, it is impossible to declare one procedure superior because the correct indication considers multiple factors.