The 1950s were the beginning of modern hair transplantation. In 1959, Dr. Orentreich published a study that explained the idea of ‘donor dominance’ – basically, transplanted hair will continue to display it’s natural characteristics wherever it is moved to, meaning healthy donor hair from the sides and the backs of the scalp will continue to grow when moved to a balding area.
At this time, a 4 mm punch was used to remove large groupings of hair from the donor dominant hair. This method is commonly referred to as “plugs”. Though this procedure was successful in getting hair to grow in a balding area, it left patients with unnatural, ‘doll-hair-like’ results. Unfortunately, this was the only option in hair restoration and continued for years.
Another outdated method of hair ‘restoration’ is scalp reduction, where the bald area in the back of the head was literally cut out of the scalp, and skin from the side of the scalp was rotated to the frontal hairline. This procedure was prominent in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, and unfortunately, left patients with excessive scarring and unnatural results.
FUT, Follicular Unit Transplant, also known as the ‘strip’ procedure became prevalent in the 1990s. In this method, a segment – or strip – of tissue is removed from the donor area using a scalpel. The tissue is then pressed together and sutured closed. The donor then heals with a linear scar that typically requires a minimum of ½ an inch of hair to cover. Unfortunately, despite the ability of the surgeon performing the procedure, there is no guarantee on how the scar will heal. Once the tissue is removed, stereo-microscopic graft dissection is used to transplant hair in its naturally occurring groups, or ‘micrografts’. This means the grafts are trimmed beneath a microscope into follicular units, containing between 1-4 hairs. The follicular units are then placed into small incisions created in the balding area. Recovery time for this procedure generally takes several weeks.
In early 2000’s FUE, Follicular Unit Extraction became an option. In FUE grafts are removed in individual follicular units, or groupings of 1-4 hairs, around the sides and the back, or the donor area. This method was first described in medical literature in 2002 (by Drs. Rassman and Bernstein). This procedure uses a small tool – around 1 mm in size – to remove follicular units as they naturally occur. These groupings are then reviewed, and placed into small incisions created in the balding area.
In 2011, a number of significant enhancements were made to FUE through robotic technology. Robotic FUE is another advance in the evolution of hair transplants that continues to make the FUE procedure more accurate, and provide optimal results for patients.
FUT and FUE are often compared as two ‘totally’ different procedures; however, this is not necessarily the case. Both are widely used surgical methods of hair transplantation using micrografts – the difference in the two lies in how the grafts are harvested from the donor area. While FUT leaves a linear scar, FUE does not require sutures, and instead leaves the patient small pinpoint openings that heal within the first 4-5 days.
FUT and FUE are often compared as two ‘totally’ different procedures; however, this is not necessarily the case. Both are widely used surgical methods of hair transplantation – the difference in the two lies in how the grafts are harvested from the donor area.
If you’ve considered restoring your hair, it’s likely that you’ve come across several different options. At Hair By Robotics, we pride ourselves in educating patients about all of their treatment options. Call us today at 1-844-HAIRBYROBO (1.844.424.7297) to schedule your free consultation with one of our hair experts, and find out what the next step is for you.
Sources: Hair Restoration Practice Census, published by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) in 2015.