The Types Of Hair Transplant (And Pros & Cons Of Each)

When considering a hair transplant, it’s essential to choose the right method for your specific needs. Hair transplants are a long-term solution for hair loss, but there are different techniques available, each with its own advantages and drawbacks.

How do you know which is the one to go for? Is there any that are better for you specifically?

In this guide, we’ll explore the three most common types of hair transplant method: FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation), FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), and DHI (Direct Hair Implantation).

We’ll break down how each method works, who it’s best suited for, and factors like cost, recovery, and availability in the UK. This’ll help you understand more of what’s involved and make it easier for you to discuss it with a clinic.

FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation)

How Does FUT Work?

FUT, also known as the strip method, involves removing a strip of scalp from the back of the head, where hair is typically resistant to thinning.

The strip is then dissected under a microscope into individual follicular units, which are transplanted into the areas affected by hair loss. It’s not like an entire strip of your scalp is just moved – that’d be oddly convenient if it were possible!

The donor area is stitched up, leaving a linear scar that will eventually be covered by surrounding hair. So it’ll be visible if you move the hair around, but you usually won’t see it (and neither will anyone else) because it’ll be underneath the hair.

Pros and Cons of FUT

Here’s a quick summary of the advantages and disadvantages of FUT hair transplant surgery.

Advantages:

• Larger graft numbers in one session: FUT allows surgeons to harvest a greater number of hair follicles at once, making it ideal for those needing a high volume of grafts. If your hair replacement surgery is aiming to cover a larger area, FUT could be a better option because of how much faster the surgery will be.
• Cost-effective: Generally, FUT is more affordable than FUE or DHI because it’s less labour-intensive in terms of extraction. If you’re looking for hair transplantation surgery but you have to consider the budget carefully, then FUT could be the option for you
• Ideal for advanced hair loss: If you need a significant number of grafts, FUT can often achieve the best results in a single procedure. It’s arguably the preferred hair transplant procedure for anyone who doesn’t want to invest in lots of hair transplant surgeries but who has a significant bald or thinning area.

Disadvantages:

• Linear scar: FUT leaves a linear scar on the donor site, which may be visible if you prefer to wear your hair short. It can also be a little uncomfortable even once healed if the scar gets knocked, though that’s minor. It’s more about the visibility of the scar that can be a concern.
• Longer recovery time: Recovery from FUT can take longer due to the more invasive nature of the procedure and the stitches required. If you aren’t careful with FUT hair transplants, the stitches could fail and cause the donor site to reopen during the recovery process.
• Limited donor area flexibility: Since the strip is taken from the back of the head, the rest of the donor area cannot be used in the same session. If you need several FUT transplants (which is rare) you’d need to wait a few months for the original FUT procedure to heal before you can harvest hair again.

Availability of FUT in the UK

FUT is widely available in clinics across the UK, though it’s less popular than it once was due to the rise of less invasive techniques like FUE.

Many reputable hair transplant surgeons still offer FUT, particularly for patients with advanced hair loss who need a high number of grafts. It’s worth asking about it with a clinic, especially if you’re on a budget, but expect to be recommended an FUE procedure if you’re suitable for it.

Who is FUT Best For?

FUT is an excellent option for individuals with more extensive hair loss who are less concerned about scarring and want to maximise the number of grafts in a single session.

It’s also well-suited for those who plan to keep their hair longer, as the scar can be easily concealed. For that reason, it might be recommended more for female pattern hair loss since more women leave their hair longer than men. It’s a good choice for those looking for a cost-effective transplant, especially when a larger area needs to be covered.

The hair growth will cover the scar, so your head will have a natural appearance once the new hair has grown and you can’t see the scalp underneath.

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction)

How Does FUE Work?

In FUE, individual hair follicles are extracted one by one using a tiny punch tool, leaving small circular scars that are nearly invisible once healed. These follicles are then implanted into the thinning or balding areas.

Unlike FUT, FUE does not involve removing a strip of scalp, making it less invasive and leaving no linear scar.

Pros and Cons of FUE

Advantages:

• No linear scar: One of the biggest benefits of FUE is the lack of a noticeable scar, making it ideal for those who prefer to keep their hair short. FUE hair transplants are almost impossible to see after a few weeks since the transplanted hairs leave almost imperceptible scars.
• Faster recovery time: Since FUE is less invasive, recovery tends to be quicker and less painful than with FUT.
• Flexible donor area: FUE allows for follicles to be taken from multiple parts of the scalp, and in some cases, even from other body areas like the chest or beard hair.
• Natural-looking results: The precision involved in FUE helps achieve very natural-looking results with little scarring.

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost: FUE tends to be more expensive than FUT because of the time and precision required for extracting individual follicles. It’s still becoming more widely used, though.
• Time-consuming: Since follicles are extracted one by one, the procedure can take much longer than FUT, especially if a large number of grafts are needed. The transplanted hair needs to be carefully placed each time.
• More sessions may be required: For those with extensive hair loss, multiple sessions may be needed to achieve the desired results in the recipient site.

Availability of FUE in the UK

FUE has become the most popular method for hair transplants in the UK, with many clinics specialising in this technique due to its minimal scarring and natural results. FUE is widely available in both major cities and more regional areas, though prices can vary depending on the clinic and surgeon’s expertise.

Who is FUE Best For?

FUE is ideal for individuals looking for a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery period and minimal scarring.

It’s particularly suitable for those who want to keep their hair short without worrying about visible scars, since it doesn’t leave behind the damage that FUT does, meaning no need for plastic surgery to obscure the scalp area if you keep your hair shorter.

FUE is also the go-to option for people with smaller areas of hair loss or those who prefer gradual improvements over multiple sessions. While it’s more expensive than FUT, it offers excellent aesthetic outcomes for those willing to invest a little more.

DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)

How Does DHI Work?

DHI is a newer technique that builds on FUE, but with a key difference in how the follicles are implanted. In DHI, the surgeon uses a specialised tool called an Implanter Pen to extract and implant follicles in one seamless motion, without the need to create recipient sites beforehand. This method allows for more precise control over the depth, angle, and placement of each follicle.

It’s likely that this will become the hair restoration surgery procedure of choice in the coming years, since each hair follicle can be precisely placed, and you still don’t get the damage to the hair bearing scalp from FUT.

Pros and Cons of DHI

Advantages:

• More precise placement: The use of the implanter pen allows for highly accurate placement of hair follicles, which can lead to more natural results and higher graft survival rates.
• Minimises handling of grafts: Because follicles are implanted immediately after extraction, there’s less risk of damage to the grafts.
• Quicker implantation process: DHI can reduce the time it takes to implant the grafts, which may improve overall graft survival.

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost: DHI is usually the most expensive hair transplant technique due to the specialised tools and precision involved.
• More time-intensive: Although the implantation process is quicker, the overall procedure may take longer due to the meticulous nature of the technique.
• Not widely available: DHI is still relatively new and not as widely available as FUT or FUE, meaning you may have fewer clinics to choose from.

Availability of DHI in the UK

While DHI is growing in popularity, it is not yet as widely available as FUE or FUT in the UK. However, many advanced hair clinics are beginning to offer this technique so it shouldn’t be hard to find one near you if you’re interested.

It’s definitely more expensive than FUT but, despite being a step on from FUE, you can still find that prices are comparable between the two, depending on your chosen clinic. DHI might be more expensive but don’t be surprised if the prices for FUE and DHI work out roughly the same.

Who is DHI Best For?

DHI is perfect for individuals who are seeking precision and natural-looking results to replace thinning hair. It’s particularly well-suited for smaller areas, such as hairline restoration or even eyebrow transplants, where placement and angle are crucial.

If you’re willing to invest in the most advanced techniques and are looking for the highest degree of control over your hair restoration, DHI could be the right option for you.

How to Choose the Right Method for You

When choosing between FUT, FUE, and DHI for your hair transplant, there are a lot of factors to think about, and these will all come into play:

• Extent of hair loss: FUT may be better for those with significant hair loss who need a large number of grafts, while FUE and DHI are ideal for smaller areas or more natural, subtle results. You might still be recommended one of the latter even fi you think you need extensive hair grafts, but for a smaller area it’d be surprising to now have FUT recommended.
• Budget: FUT tends to be the most affordable option, while DHI is usually the most expensive due to the precision tools and technique involved. FUE will only be slightly cheaper than DHI, though. And don’t rely purely on budget to make your decision – different hair transplants have different needs, and so an FUT or FUE/DHI might not be right for you.
• Scarring: If you’re concerned about scarring and prefer to wear your hair short, FUE or DHI are better choices due to their minimal scarring compared to FUT.
• Recovery time: If you’re looking for a faster recovery period with less downtime, FUE and DHI are generally preferable over FUT since you don’t have to worry about a big scar healing.

Conclusion

These are the main types of hair transplant surgery available in the UK. There might be others recommended, such as flap surgery (where part of the balding area is surgically removed from the scalp, sometimes called a scalp reduction), but typically if you want a hair transplant then you’ll be offered one of these methods we’ve detailed above.

Just because FUT is cheaper for hair replacement surgery, don’t assume that a clinic is trying to extort you if they recommend FUE or DHI. You should ask about FUT as an option, but the clinicians should then explain why it’s not suitable for your hair transplant surgery if they’re recommending another option.

Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions when deciding with your clinic on the best choice for you, but hair transplants are not always the same and so you’ll have specific requirements depending on your situation.

However, you’re now equipped to go in with an understanding of the different options available, so that you can fully understand what you’re being offered and why.

Sources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547740/
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0190962221009014
3. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/hair-transplants

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider or a licensed hair transplant specialist before undergoing any medical procedure.

Technological advances continue in the field of hair transplantation. This guide offers an overview of the latest known methods and processes but advice for your individual circumstances could vary. A qualified surgeon will be able to offer you advice on the best type of hair transplant for your needs.