STRIP or FUE on virgin scalp

[Colin]

Hi all.

Which of the following strategies will most likely result in the maximum number of grafts over a series of surgeries?
1. First do a STRIP, as large as possible. One year later or so go for a FUE.
2. Skip STRIP and only opt for 1-3 FUE's.


Attributes:
- Thin donor hairs (6/10)
- Dark-blond, light brown color
- White skin
- Approx. 5000 FUE grafts in donor
- Currently NW 3V, probably going towards 5V

 

[Bigmac]

Hi Colin, if you're thinking you will be a Norwood five I would opt to have a strip first to maximize yield providing you do t wish to shave your head. Is most of your hair loss in the frontal third or spread out?

 

[JoeTillman]

I agree with Bigmac but don't go for as large as possible in one go. If you have bad growth you've just tossed the majority of your donor down the drain.

Where do you get the stats you posted about your hair? Have you had consultations?

The only caveat is, if you are at any time planning or hoping to have very short haircuts then proceed with caution and avoid strip. Try to halt or even reverse your loss through medical means first as surgery is always a last resort.

 

[Vinci Hair Clinic]

Colin wrote:

Hi all.

Which of the following strategies will most likely result in the maximum number of grafts over a series of surgeries?
1. First do a STRIP, as large as possible. One year later or so go for a FUE.
2. Skip STRIP and only opt for 1-3 FUE's.


Attributes:
- Thin donor hairs (6/10)
- Dark-blond, light brown color
- White skin
- Approx. 5000 FUE grafts in donor
- Currently NW 3V, probably going towards 5V

5000 FUE is not a small number, a conclusion could be you either have a very good donor hair density, or what % of the donor is going to needed reach the number, 30, 30, 70%?


Poor hair characteristics thin hair means that even when a high density is placed the look can appear lower than expected. Hair colour compared to skin complexion can be an advantage when lower.

It maybe better to post some pictures if you are looking to get a better assessment; all your points are very real, but there are many variants.

 

[garageland]

It depends on your laxity. If you have a tight scalp then 3 sessions of FUE would get your more grafts based on average density than 1 session of FUT and one FUE. If your laxity is average then you will get more with FUT in terms of numbers just and if your laxity is above average then the number in favour of FUT could be significantly more.

 

[Vinci Hair Clinic]

Colin wrote:

Hi all.

Which of the following strategies will most likely result in the maximum number of grafts over a series of surgeries?
1. First do a STRIP, as large as possible. One year later or so go for a FUE.
2. Skip STRIP and only opt for 1-3 FUE's.


Attributes:
- Thin donor hairs (6/10)
- Dark-blond, light brown color
- White skin
- Approx. 5000 FUE grafts in donor
- Currently NW 3V, probably going towards 5V

Hi Colin,

You have obviously started your research, important, and have brought up some good points, some cannot be answered precisely without an in-person consultation.

There are a few fundamental differences between the two techniques that revolve around the extraction method. It ´s not so much one is better than the other, but as you are looking to find out, which is best for you.

FUT relies more on donor hair density in a relatively small area and skin laxity; FUE relies more on general overall hair density and managing what is the safe donor hair zone.

A large FUT is going to do little to lower the overall hair density around the donor, although it will effect the skin laxity. FUE will reduce the hair density around the donor, but have little to no effect on skin laxity.

Donor hair density will have large impact on what can be achieved whilst maintaining the quality of your donor area and give you the coverage you need, now and long term. Then with FUE how large is your potential safe zone to take grafts from and the % that can be removed, and with FUT how the skin laxity helps or restricts the size of the first and subsequent procedures performed.