subject: The Big Debate Strip Surgery Versus Fue [print this page] The big question among hair loss suffers in search of a solution is which technique to trust. There exist good and bad reviews of all types of hair restoration surgery. Some seem to have a higher chance of complication, while the ones with less risk may exclude a large population as "poor candidates." It's difficult to know what's the best option in the face of today's technology. However, the decision usually comes down to one of two options: strip surgery or FUE.
What is Strip Surgery?
Strip surgery, also called follicular unit strip surgery (FUSS), or strip harvesting, is a procedure in which the surgeon grafts a strip of flesh from the donor area, being the mid-back portion of the scalp. The wound is stitched closed and the strip of donor hair is then cut up, with microscopic precision, into follicular units (naturally occurring groups of one to four hairs). Each follicular unit is implanted individually into the bald recipient area.
Pros of Strip Surgery
It requires less time in surgery than FUE.
It can be a more cost effective option than FUE.
It may be easier to find a qualified strip surgeon considering it requires a lower level of skill than FUE.
Cons of Strip Surgery
It undoubtedly leaves a linear scar in the donor area. Touted to be "paper thin," this scar typically widens and stretches over time.
Hairstyles often become limited to longer growth in order to conceal the telltale scar.
The donor pool with this type of surgery is very limited. Those requiring extensive hair transplantation would not qualify.
It is limited in the type of donor hair used. Hair from the mid-back portion of the head, being thickest, is not conducive to designing a natural-looking hairline. Hairline design from strip surgery often results in a harsh wall of hair.
What is FUE?
FUE, also known as follicular unit extraction, is a microsurgical hair restoration procedure wherein the practitioner uses a pen-like handheld device to extract the follicular units one by one from the donor area. This means the donor area can be any part of the scalp where hair is still plentiful, including finer hair from the nape of the neck or behind the ears. The harvested donor hairs are then implanted one at a time into the balding recipient area.
Pros of FUE
It is a less invasive procedure than strip surgery.
It requires no stitches, staples, or bandages.
The microscopic incisions mean any scarring is typically insignificant.
Designing a natural-looking hairline is achievable through the use of finer hairs, as they enable the surgeon to build a gradual hairline.
As FUE has the ability to segue into body hair transplantation, the donor hair becomes virtually endless and almost no one is turned away as a poor candidate.
This technique requires a higher level of skill and more practice to be carried out successfully on a consistent basis, thus a recipient of this procedure should be in excellent hands.
FUE typically leads to higher patient satisfaction long term.
Cons of FUE
It is more labor-intensive for the surgeon and assisting medical staff, thus requires more time.
It may be difficult to find a qualified FUE surgeon locally.
