Exploring Advanced Hair Transplant Techniques at The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco

Hair transplantation has come a long way in recent years, with updated techniques that make the process more natural and comfortable for the patient. At The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco, we offer FUE and FUT techniques for our hair transfer patients because they allow us to tailor each procedure to each individual's unique needs and desired results. While these two hair extraction methods are very similar, each has benefits and drawbacks depending on your situation. Understanding the subtle differences between the two is essential to make the best treatment choice.

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Hair Transplantation Overview

To understand the different techniques offered by Dr. Maas, you need first to have an overview of how hair transplantation works. The first step in this procedure is to select a donor site where follicles are still actively growing healthy hair. The back of the head is a common choice for both men and women because this is where hair is typically most dense. Once the donor site is selected, the follicles can be removed from the site and transferred to the scalp area needing restoration. This area is often the front of the hairline, the temples, or running down the hair's natural part. Transplants are done via a needle or small tube that places the extracted follicle into its new location. This process minimizes the need for incisions or visible scarring after the procedure.

NeoGraft Before & After

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Extraction Techniques

Dr. Maas offers two different options for removing the hair follicles from the donor site:

FUE

Follicular unit extraction, or FUE, involves removing hair follicles one at a time and placing them into the balding area. We use two different devices for this procedure. The NeoGraft device removes the hair follicles in natural groupings of one to four hairs at a time. The SmartGraft device also allows for the removal of individual hair follicles and can extract hair from other donor sites and the scalp.

FUT

Follicular unit transplantation works similarly to FUE. However, this technique removes a small strip of hair, around 1.5 centimeters in length. The follicles from the strip are separated and then implanted one by one into the balding area on the scalp.

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Choosing Between FUE and FUT

When choosing between the FUE and FUT techniques, a few factors must be considered. First, if there is going to be quite a bit of hair needed from the donor site, there may be more efficient options than FUE. This approach can leave you with numerous micro-holes where the follicles are taken, which can be difficult to disguise. In this situation, FUT allows more follicles to be taken from the donor site, with only small linear scars left behind.

In addition, FUT allows for the most significant number of grafts to be used, resulting in a more efficient procedure overall. The quality of the grafts may also be better since the follicles are microscopically dissected after removal rather than removed individually from the scalp, preserving the integrity of the follicle more completely. At the same time, FUT does not require the donor area to be shaved, which makes it easier to hide the fact that you had hair transplantation performed.

At the same time, FUT often results in a slightly more uncomfortable and longer recovery process than FUE due to the longer incisions. Longer incisions also make incision care much more important after FUT to prevent visible scarring after the procedure. For individuals worried about their ability to wear their hair short after the procedure, FUT may not be the desirable choice due to the potential for scarring as well.

FUE Technique at The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco

When choosing between FUE and FUT, surgical skill far outweighs the pros and cons of either technique. As long as you select a surgeon like Dr. Maas, who has had ample experience in a variety of hair transplantation procedures like NeoGraft, you are more likely to see success with either of these extraction techniques. Dr. Maas can also help you determine whether FUE or FUT will provide the best results for your situation. Hair restoration is less invasive and more successful than ever before.

To learn more about these procedures, contact The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco today.

Corey S. Maas, MD, reviewed the information about FUE technique hair transplants. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.

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