What FUT is
FUT stands for follicular unit transplantation, usually called the strip method. Instead of taking grafts out one at a time, the surgeon removes a thin strip of scalp from the back of the head, where hair is most resistant to balding. The strip is then divided under magnification into individual follicular units of one to four hairs, which are placed into thinning areas.
The result is the same kind of graft as FUE. What differs is how the donor hair is harvested, what the donor area looks like afterwards and how many grafts can come out in one session.
FUT is now the less common method. In the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) 2025 Practice Census, members reported that about 12.5% of male hair transplants in 2024 used strip harvesting, against roughly 30% for women, where avoiding a shaved donor area often matters more.
How the strip method works
- Planning and marking. The doctor assesses your donor density and scalp laxity, marks the strip and the recipient area, and confirms the hairline with you.
- Anaesthetic. The scalp is numbed with local anaesthetic, often with sedation for comfort.
- Strip removal. A strip is taken from the back of the scalp. The ISHRS describes strips of about 0.5 to 1.5 cm wide and 5 to 30 cm long, depending on how many grafts are needed.
- Closure. The wound is closed with sutures or staples, ideally using a trichophytic technique (explained below).
- Dissection. A team uses microscopes to divide the strip into single follicular units, sorted by the number of hairs.
- Recipient sites and placement. The surgeon makes small incisions in the treated area and the grafts are placed, with finer single-hair grafts at the front.
Because the hair around the strip is left long, it covers the closed wound straight away. This is one of the main reasons people choose FUT: there is no need to clip the whole back of the head.
The linear scar
The trade-off is a permanent linear scar running across the back of the head. In many people it heals as a fine line that is hidden by hair of normal length. The ISHRS suggests FUT tends to suit people who wear their hair longer than about an inch, roughly 2.5 cm.
Scars do not always heal as planned. Some stretch or widen, and government health information lists thick or visible scarring among the recognised risks of hair transplant surgery. A widened scar can show if you later want a very short clipper cut. It can sometimes be improved with scar revision or by placing FUE grafts into it, but it cannot be fully erased. Our guide to hair transplant risks covers this alongside other complications.
The donor area also tends to feel tighter and more uncomfortable in the first days after FUT than after FUE, and the sutures or staples need removing at a follow-up visit.
Trichophytic closure
A trichophytic closure is a way of stitching the donor wound so hair grows through the scar rather than leaving a bare line. According to the ISHRS, the surgeon trims about a millimetre of tissue, usually from the lower edge of the wound, so that when the edges are brought together, follicles on that edge sit under the scar and grow up through it.
It does not remove the scar, but it can make it harder to see, especially at shorter lengths. Ask whether the clinic uses this technique as standard, and whether the doctor closes the wound personally.
Graft yield and graft quality
FUT's main strength is volume. The ISHRS notes that it allows a high number of grafts to be moved in a single session. Because follicles are dissected under a microscope rather than punched out blind, the StatPearls review from the US National Library of Medicine notes less transection of follicles and a higher graft survival rate, along with shorter operating time.
The strip also comes from the middle of the safe donor zone, the area least likely to thin with age. That makes the grafts a reliable long-term supply. FUE, by contrast, spreads extractions across a wider area, some of which may be less secure over the decades.
How many grafts you actually need depends on your pattern of loss, not the method. See how many grafts do I need for a guide by Norwood stage.
Who FUT tends to suit
The ISHRS lists these groups as typical FUT candidates:
- people who wear their hair longer than about 2.5 cm at the back
- older men, since scars tend to heal well with age
- people with advanced hair loss who need a large number of grafts, for example at Norwood 6 or beyond
- people who do not want to shave the donor area
It suits fewer people if you want a skin-short cut at the back and sides, have a tight scalp that may not close comfortably, or are prone to poor scarring. Many people with large lifetime needs end up using both methods over time, which the ISHRS says can yield additional grafts compared with either alone. Our FUE vs FUT comparison sets the two side by side.
Why fewer clinics offer FUT now
FUT has become a minority procedure, and you will find plenty of clinics that advertise FUE only. The reasons are practical rather than medical.
- Demand. Many people now want to keep the option of very short hair, and a linear scar limits that.
- Marketing. FUE is often promoted as scarless or minimally invasive. The ISHRS has criticised misleading names for what is still surgery, but the messaging has shaped expectations.
- Staffing. Strip surgery needs a trained dissection team working under microscopes, plus a surgeon skilled at closing the wound. FUE needs fewer staff, which suits smaller clinics.
None of this makes FUT outdated. For the right person it remains a sound option, particularly when a large number of high quality grafts is the priority. If a clinic only offers one method, ask how it would handle a case where the other method suits you better. Our guide on how to choose a clinic has more on checking this.
Common questions
How big is the FUT scar?
It depends on how large the strip was and how your skin heals. In many people it settles as a fine line across the back of the head that is hidden by hair of normal length. Some scars stretch or widen and can show with a very short cut. A trichophytic closure can help hair grow through the scar. Ask the doctor how they expect your scar to heal given your scalp and hair.
Is FUT cheaper than FUE?
Sometimes, but not always. The ISHRS lists lower cost among possible FUT advantages, partly because more grafts can be moved in one session. In Australia, pricing varies widely between clinics and many price per graft whatever the method. Compare the total quote for the same number of grafts, and check what is included. Our cost guide explains typical Australian price ranges.
Can you have FUE after FUT?
Yes. Many people who have had strip surgery later have FUE, either to add grafts from areas the strip did not use or to place grafts into the scar to make it less visible. The ISHRS notes that combining both methods over a lifetime can increase the total number of grafts available. A doctor needs to assess your remaining donor density before recommending it.
Why do some clinics not offer FUT?
Strip surgery needs a trained team to dissect grafts under microscopes and a surgeon experienced in closing the wound. Demand has shifted toward FUE because many people want to keep very short hair. As a result, some clinics only offer FUE. That is a business decision, not proof that FUT is outdated, so ask how a single-method clinic would handle a case better suited to the other method.
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