Follicular Unit Transplant—Improvisations Of The Strip Technique

Over the years something, more than just the revamped names have changed. With improvision over the years, the surgery was performed by the surgeons as groups of 1- 4 hairs pulled together, known as follicular units. The principle of follicular grafting has come up with a new dimension with well projected medical procedure and revamped terminologies like FUT and FUE. Inititally, the surgeons juts picked up random numbers from anywhere they found suitable depending upon their perception of hair restoration process.  But this technique had a very funny looking appearance and the head seemed to look like a doll’s hair, which was far from natural.

 The process which involved punch grafting and strip harvesting had both increased the count of morbidity issues as the idea of a method which involved excising the skin from the permanent donor zone at the back of the scalp didn’t do quite well, resulting in more and more scars and unwanted results.

Giving rise to a new technique of strip excision known as Follicular Unit Transplant  or FUT procedure.  The main change, which has come with the internal process with the use of multiple bladed scalpels during the process of anesthesia. But after the change in scenario now after local anesthesia the procedure is performed without affecting the area anyhow, without bruising, scarring or excess blood loss.

Local anesthesia constricts the collagen and blood vessels, causing less blood flow and fastening up the recovery procedure.  While there were multiple strips of skin extracted, causing more transection rate of hair follicles earlier, it is just a  2mm wide strip of skin  from the donor zone which is deployed.

With the help of advanced technique the donor wound is closed with a closure technique known as Trichp closure which dissolves with the soluble sutures and staples.  Before this the donor closure technique of the strip procedure had morbidity issues with serrated island and pierce closure techniques.

Infact , standing in the present scenario, the punch grafting technique is outdated and FUT is the preferred one.  Some people confuse between these two processes as they may look pretty similar.

But in reality the hair follicle units are harvested one by one with micro-punches and magnified vision with advanced techniques and super fine instruments, leaving tiny pin prick holes in the donor zone and a decreased density of hair. While earlier, it would be in the size of a pencil eraser leaving bigger spots to heal.

The FUE process takes 2 weeks time to complete healing and fade, which is way faster than the previously used technique. Patients are given post operative instructions which should be taken care of enabling faster recovery.