FUE Hair Restoration
NeoGraft vs. The Strip Method
Did you know that more than fifty million men and thirty million women suffer from male or female pattern baldness and/or thinning hair? One of the most important decisions you’ll make in regards to your future health is the type of hair transplant procedure you’ll have. There are several options, including FUE Hair Restoration and FUT (also known as The Strip Method or Follicular Unit Transplantation). FUE can also be used to describe NeoGraft. NeoGraft, as we’ll mention in this article, is a minimally invasive hair treatment using FUE or Follicular Unit Extraction.
You deserve to love your hairline, so which Hair Restoration Method is best for you? Let’s compare the two most popular methods: FUE and The Strip Method.
What is a Hair Transplant?
A hair transplant is the redistribution of hair follicles from an area on your body with dense hair to an area with excessive hair loss. A single hair follicle grows one hair. Each person is born with anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 follicles. These follicles can be affected prematurely by stress, male or female pattern baldness, lack of sleep, or a number of other factors. They can also be affected by general aging, as the hair begins to thin.
Decades ago, when hair transplants began, plugs were used as grafts. Plugs were round grafts taken from the back of the scalp. Each graft contained nearly a dozen follicles. The hair grew, but it looked unnatural. Second and third sessions were often required to fill space between grafts.
Then, flaps of hair-bearing scalp were rotated into a new position to manufacture a hairline. This looked entirely fake and was less preferred to plugs. Today, things are done quite differently.
Natural Hair Restoration Methods
There are natural restoration methods for thinning hair. Although these methods are less effective than both FUT and FUE, they are worth exploring as a supplement.
- Take Less Vitamin A. If you’ve been overusing Vitamin A supplements or medications, it can trigger hair loss. Supplements contain anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 International Units. Adults need only 5,000.
- Eat More Protein. A lack of protein can lead to excessive hair loss. Add protein to your diet by eating fish, meat, and eggs. There are vegan and vegetarian sources of protein, including peanut butter.
- Change Your Birth Control. There’s a chance your birth control may affect your hairline. Talk to your doctor about other options, but keep in mind that stopping oral contraceptives can sometimes cause temporary hair loss.
- Avoid Ongoing Emotional Stress. Stress is a major cause of premature hair loss. Reduce your stress by seeking help, getting more exercise, or keeping a diary.
- Don’t Overstyle Your Hair. Vigorous hair treatments can cause your hair to fall out, including tight briads, weaves, corn rows, and chemical treatments. Avoid high heat, chemicals, and practices that affect the hair root.
The Strip Method
The Strip Method involves taking a strip of hair-bearing scalp from the back of the head under magnification, cutting it into small grafts, and suturing the donor site. This leaves a linear scar. For this reason, The Strip Method is preferred by those with long hair, which hides the scar from sight.
This method typically, but not always, provides the highest yield of hair. If your goal is to achieve maximum fullness, you should consider FUT. The stereo-microscopic dissection and efficient harvest are highly precise, choosing from a more select area of the donor zone.
FUE Hair Restoration and NeoGraft
In FUE Hair Restoration, grafts are taken from the back of the scalp in punches that contain anywhere from one to four hair follicles each. This leaves a small spot where each graft is taken but isn’t noticeable when spaced properly. FUE was relatively slow to complete in the beginning, with roughly 750 grafts retrieved per session.
Once NeoGraft entered the market, automated FUE became the new normal, with more than 2500 grafts retrieved per session. Still, the hair must be cut short at the donor site. It can take anywhere from ten to fourteen days for the hair to grow back. Long hair can take months to return to normal length. On the other hand, this area can be covered by additional long hair.
NeoGraft is minimally invasive with no stitches or staples. There is little or no discomfort during the procedure. Recovery time is quick – meaning you can resume normal activity in just a few days. To top it off, your hairline will look completely natural.
Can I Have Both FUT and FUE?
Theoretically yes. You can have both FUT and FUE procedures. FUT must be completed first in order to maximize the yield of the initial procedure. Then, your physician may switch to FUE. Some physicians may choose to utilize FUE to harvest units before implanting them in scarred areas, thus camouflaging linear scars put in place by FUT. However, if FUE is performed first and the yield is below an acceptable rate, the patient can switch to FUT for subsequent surgeries. This order is less-than-ideal but possible.
Buckhead Hair Restoration and Dr. Monte Slater
Dr. Monte Slater specializes in FUE Hair Restoration and other Hair Loss Treatments for men and women of all ethnicities. He is a double board-certified physician with focuses on Anti-Aging, Cosmetic Procedures, and Regenerative Medicine. All consultations with Dr. Slater are complimentary. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (770)-415-8071. You can also visit our Facebook Page for ongoing updates.