Follicular unit transplantation, usually called FUT or the strip method, was the standard approach for years. A strip of skin is removed from the back of the scalp, the wound is closed, and the strip is divided under magnification into individual follicular units for implantation. FUE takes each follicular unit directly, one at a time, with a fine punch.
The scar is the main difference
FUT leaves a linear scar running across the back of the head. Closed well it can be fine, but it is permanent, and it limits how short you can ever wear your hair. Anyone who might want a number two or a shaved back and sides at some point in the next thirty years should think hard about that.
FUE leaves small circular marks instead, spread across the donor area. They fade, and at normal hair lengths they are not visible.
Recovery
FUT involves a sutured wound, so there is more discomfort, more tightness at the back of the head, and stitches or staples to remove. FUE has no closure, and most people find the donor area settles within days. Both allow a return to desk work within roughly the same window, but the donor experience is noticeably different.
Does FUT have any advantages?
In fairness, yes, in specific circumstances. It can yield a large number of grafts in a single session, and it does not require shaving the donor area, which some patients with long hair value. Some surgeons argue it can preserve donor density better in certain cases.
For most people those advantages do not outweigh a permanent linear scar, which is why the field has moved decisively towards FUE.
What we do
We use FUE, including the Sapphire variation, and DHI where a no-shave approach suits the case better. We do not offer the strip technique. If your case genuinely called for it we would tell you and discuss where to go, but in practice modern FUE handles the great majority of cases well.
Frequently asked questions
Is FUE better than FUT?
For most patients, yes, principally because there is no linear scar and the donor area recovers more comfortably. FUT retains niche uses but has largely been superseded.
Can a FUT scar be improved?
Sometimes. Scalp micropigmentation can reduce how visible it looks, and in selected cases grafts can be placed into the scar. Neither removes it entirely.
Does FUE give fewer grafts?
Not necessarily. Large FUE sessions are routine; what limits the number is your donor supply, not the technique.
Which hurts more?
Both are done under local anaesthetic. Afterwards, the FUT donor wound is generally more uncomfortable than FUE extraction sites.
Book a free consultation at our Harley Street clinic and we will explain which technique suits your case.