Differences between FUSS and FUE techniques: which technique is best suited to me?
Although there are effective hair treatments to prevent and stop hair loss, as well as to nourish and strengthen hair, hair transplantation is the only definitive solution against alopecia.
That’s why more and more people are choosing to improve their appearance and their self-esteem with a hair transplant. But, once the decision has been made to put an end to alopecia for good, doubts begin to creep in. Should I get a hair transplant in Spain or Turkey? Which hair transplant technique is more suitable for my needs, the FUSS or the FUE technique?
A prior scalp analysis is required
The key to choosing the technique is to know which one is best suited to each patient. Therefore, before a transplant is performed, a thorough study of the scalp is necessary, as well as the identification of the type and degree of alopecia and the particularities of the patient’s hair.
At this stage, the donor and recipient areas are also mapped out in order to calculate the follicles needed to cover the bald area. Determining whether the ratio between the two zones is sufficient and whether there are quality follicles is essential for a successful transplant.
FUE technique, the most popular technique today
The FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair technique consists of extracting one follicular unit at a time from the donor area, which must have a good hair density, and which will be totally or partially shaved. The follicular units are then implanted one by one in the recipient areas.
FUE is a safe and effective technique that does not leave any scars as the incisions are barely perceptible and heal completely within a week. The transplant is performed under local anaesthesia and is considered an outpatient procedure. Although it’s a lengthy, laborious procedure, it’s completed in a single day and the patient can return to normal life immediately. Just follow a few simple guidelines to avoid damaging the transplants.
The FUE technique is the best choice if you need follicles from several donor areas, if you want to avoid marks on the scalp, or if you want the hair to cover over marks from previous FUSS procedures. It’s also the best option if you prefer to wear your hair short.
The FUSS technique
In the FUSS (Follicular Unit Strip Surgery) or strip technique, the follicular units are obtained by extracting a strip of skin with a scalpel. This strip obtained from the occipital area should contain enough hair to resolve the alopecia.
FUSS is a good option when the patient doesn’t want to have their head shaved as part of the procedure.
It’s an invasive procedure, which is performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia. So, the main disadvantage of the FUSS technique is that a scar is formed in the extraction area, which can become visible with short hair, although over the years the final result has been greatly improved. It is slower to heal than the FUE technique, which generates only minimal scars that do not require sutures. There may also be a loss of sensation in the donor area. One of the great advantages of both the FUSS and FUE techniques is that the results of the hair transplant are visible after a single operation and from the first moment.
At Insparya we have a medical team with extensive experience in hair transplants that is also a pioneer in the FUE technique, which we can perform without the need for a complete shave.
