FUT Procedure

When you've made your decision, we will set a date for operation.

An informed consent form will be provided at least fifteen days prior to surgery; it must be signed the day of the surgery. One of our staff members will go over the general rules and your customized surgery procedures with you to give you a summary of the decisions made regarding the overall strategy of your surgery and the area to be covered during the procedure.

Generally, the operation begin early in the day and end late in the afternoon or evening. For patients from abroad, it is desirable to be present the day before surgery to be fresh and rested on the day of the surgery.
 

FUT/STRIP (Technique of the strip)

The area of the strip is shaved. Contrary to common practice, the adjacent areas are not.

But the advantage is clear: the suture is invisible because immediately  in a hairy area.

Local anesthesia is applied.

After extraction of the strip of the scalp suturing is performed using absorbable suture for the deep wound to reduce the tension under the skin : non-absorbable thread is used for the superficial closing. This is done after use of  the "tricophytic closure" technique that reduces the appearance of the scar, allowing the regrowth of hair in the scar. (see diagram).

The suture thread is then removed around ten days later. 
At this time, with a microscope, the strip of skin removed is cut up into thin pieces called "slivers" which will be cut up in a second step to individualise the follicular units. These will then be re-implanted to recreate the desired design in the receiving area.

The follicular units are by definition groups of hairs that contain one, two, three or four hairs.
On exceptional rare occasions five-hair follicular units are found naturally.

Then, the incisions are distributed throughout the recipient area. Late morning or early afternoon, the relocation of the grafts begins.

We strongly advise against driving on the evening of surgery. Therefore, you must arrange another means of transportation.

It is essential to come to the clinic the day after surgery to verify the good condition of the graft.

Feel free to ask any questions; Dr LUPANZULA will provide you with all the answers you need.