About the technique: FUG or “Strip Excision”

Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG) is a method of hair transplantation sometimes called “strip excision.” During FUG, a thin strip of scalp is removed from the patient’s balding-resistant donor area. The strip contains the donor hairs along with their hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and blood supply.

The strip is dissected under magnification to prepare individual grafts. Follicular clusters are segregated in their normal 1,2,3,and 4 hair units. The surgeon then meticulously places the grafts at the correct angle, direction and pattern of your original hair. Each graft is carefully placed to allow enough blood to nourish every hair during the brief healing process (called recapilarization). Because we exclusively use naturally occurring follicular hair clusters of 1,2,3 and 4 hairs, any future hair loss will not result in unnatural appearing "islands" of transplanted hair.

Your donor area is closed with sutures or sometimes, surgical staples, and then covered with a bandage. The resulting scar is very thin and when healed, very difficult to detect, even under close inspection.

The FUG procedure has some important advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other leading method, Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). We are proud to offer both as well as this brief comparison of the two methods.

FUG Advantages:

• Cost Effectiveness

FUG is typically less expensive than FUE simply because it is less time-consuming.

• More Grafts Per Session

A physician can transplant a greater number of hair grafts in a single session of FUG than is possible using FUE. With FUG, a physician can transplant up to 4,000 follicular units or 10,000 hairs in just one session.

FUG Disadvantages:

• Scarring

The FUG procedure produces a long, linear scar where the strip of donor hair is removed. Although the scar is usually very thin and nearly undetectable when fully healed, it’s still there. For men who wear their hair very short, this might be a consideration.

• Longer Recovery