How can I decide between the FUE procedure commonly called follicular unit extraction and the strip procedure commonly called FUT or FUG?
In general, the major difference between FUE and the strip procedure is the presence in the long run of a fine line scar in the back of the scalp. Patients who select the strip procedure, which constitutes a large majority of all patients in our practice and just about every other clinic in the nation, get the advantages with the strip of a higher number of grafts, a slightly higher re-growth percentage and only a single day procedure and a lower price. On the down side, each of these patients is left with a very fine line linear scar, in most cases 2 mm or less in width, that can be visible if the patient chooses to shave their head or cut their hair very short.
The major advantage of the FUE procedure, on the other hand, is that there is no visible scarring in the long run from this procedure. Patients who choose FUE do so despite the fact that it is more costly and despite the fact that it takes two days instead of one in most cases because they are able to avoid any type of scar. Most patients who select FUE choose to shave their head or wear their hair very short or simply wish to have the ability to so that in the future and so elect to have the FUE procedure instead of strip.
Contrary to what most doctors will suggest, there is no good or bad selection. It is more a matter of choice. Dr. Epstein enjoys both the FUE procedure and strip and believes in the results of both procedures to get an outstanding result for different types of patients.
Posted by Jon Hoffenberg, Executive Vice President FHRPS