This article compares the techniques used and healing process for each procedure. 

Follicular Unit Hair Transplant (FUHT)

In FUHT, a strip of hair bearing scalp is extracted from the donor area.  The strip varies between 1cm to 1.5cm in width.  The strip incision is then closed by dissolvable sutures or surgical staples as shown in the following picture. The sutures will dissolve and do not have to be removed. The strip is then dissected into individual follicular unit grafts.

Follicular Unit Separation Extraction (FUSE)

With FUSE, the follicular units are extracted one by one in a random pattern. The tiny donor sites are left to heal on their own. There is no need of any closure as the donor sites are very small.

The picture below shows a typical scalp donor area from where the follicular units have been extracted. A 26 gauge needle (needle diameter 0.45mm), is juxtaposed in the picture for sake of comparison. As can be seen from the picture, the follicular units are extracted in a random pattern, so that no two adjacent units are extracted. Since there is no suture/staples, there is no suture scar. It is, therefore, possible to buzz cut the hair without worrying about a suture scar being visible.

Additional Information

This petri dish shows some of the dissected grafts that are stored in a chilled lactated ringer's fluid till they are transplanted. These grafts are transplanted into the bald/balding area.

This picture shows follicular unit grafts being transplanted into pre prepared slits in the recipient area. This step is carried out by gently sliding the hair follicular unit grafts into pre-prepared needle slits. The grafts are inserted into the balding recipient area in the same manner for both FUSE and FUHT. 

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