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.