Does An FUE Hair Transplant Get The Same Yield As a Strip Procedure?

Written by James Harris, MD, FACS on January 20, 2010

[ Video Response Below ] After reviewing your materials I’ve made the decision to have a hair transplant, but now my biggest dilemma is whether to go with FUE or the strip harvesting method. I’m really struggling with this. I think I will need at least 3000 grafts to make a dent in my Norwood III pattern of hair loss, so I know a strip is probably the best way to go, but I’m very nervous about being one of those people with a bad strip scar. Does FUE really get the same yield as strip? Also, am I being paranoid about the scar?

Thank you for your help in this matter.
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Thank you for your question regarding your dilemma of whether to have hair restoration utilizing strip surgery or FUE to obtain the grafts. Unfortunately, you may have heard conflicting information on this topic from either patients or physicians, due to either a lack of knowledge about either procedure, or due to a commercial bias. I am going to try and give you some information that may help you sort the facts and make a decision that is right for you.

You are not alone in your fear about ending up as one of those people you have read about with bad strip scars. But, lets take a step back, ignore the hype and look at the two procedures. First, I would like to tell you that about 60% of my patients opt for strip surgery and the remainder opt for FUE. I am hopeful that the reason my patients select one procedure over another is because they understood the risks, benefits and costs and then made a decision based on the merits of each procedure.

Strip surgery, if performed by a competent physician, rarely results in a a scar that is wide or disfiguring unless there was a gross error in estimating the skin laxity or mobility, or the patient had an abnormal tendency to heal with a wide scar. Both are pretty rare. The average scar width is probably between 1 and 3 millimeters. Pretty much undetectable unless someone is combing through the hair looking for it, however, if you cut your hair short maybe less than a 1/2inch or 1/4inch it may be somewhat visible. [...]

View Dr. James Harris’ Full Response:

James A. Harris, MD, FACS
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons
Member, American Hair Loss Association

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