Follicular Unit Transplantation

Abstract

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) is the culmination of decades of refinement and evolution of hair transplantation techniques. Hair naturally grows in groups of one to four individual follicles separated by intervening soft tissue. These clumps or groups of hairs are termed FOLLICULAR UNITS. FUT uses microscopic dissection to separate these units for transplantation in a fashion that most closely resembles naturally occurring hair. FUT has grown to become recognized by many prominent hair restoration surgeons as the state-of-the-art method of hair replacement surgery for both male and female pattern alopecia. Although larger punch grafts, scalp flaps, and alopecia reductions may play a role in certain cases, FUT achieves results that are difficult to differentiate from naturally occurring hair. The central attributes of the technique are the provision of natural-appearing hairlines with reasonable density together with low morbidity and minimal "downtime." Nevertheless, the technique is only as effective as the technician, and results are heavily dependent on the forethought of the architect.