Why do some doctors only offer FUE? Isn’t FUT better?

The quality of FUT (Strip) harvest grafts are generally better than FUE harvested grafts.  Not all doctors are trained in FUE or FUT.  One size does not fit all.  One harvesting technique does not meet all requirements.  Women usually don't want to shave their head for FUE.

Not all doctors performing hair restoration procedures are trained in strip harvesting.  Some have no background surgical training.  Make sure to check the qualifications of the physician you intend to have your procedure with.  

The reality is FUE has one huge advantage-  the absence altogether of a linear donor site scar-  so for any patient younger than 40 or so, FUE is absolutely in most cases the only way to go, and even for patients who are older, FUE is preferred-  plus the first few days of healing after FUE are easier.Properly performed, hair growth of FUE grafts is equal to if not superior to FUT.   In fact, because the grafts can be individually selected, the average number of hairs per FUE graft is slightly higher than with FUT grafts-  therefore, a 2000 FUE graft will provide usually 10 to 20% more hairs than the same number of FUT grafts.

My answer is both procedures can be good for the right person in the right hands. I usually recommend FUT for patients that know will never want to wear their hair shorter than a 3-4 on the clippers. I do a trichophytic closure in all cases I can. Sometimes curly hair doesn't work as well for a trichophytic closure as it can curl into the wound and irritate the incision. It many cases, FUT can be cheaper. But most cases that choose FUT in my experience are guys that really don't want to shave the donor area.FUE is a great procedure but more variables involved. It's a different skill set than FUT for the physician doing the extractions. It involves a lot of endurance, speed, repetition, accuracy, and focus for relatively long periods of time. I liken it to playing a musical instrument. Its not for everyone. But in skilled hands, the grafts can be the same (and sometimes better) than the FUT grafts. And while there is no procedure that has no scarring, FUE with a smaller punch, distributed over a large area, can have minimal scarring, which is only important for guys that want to wear their donor hair very short. And I've been able to harvest up to 4300 grafts with an FUE in one session. My largest FUT was 4600 so pretty close. 

Both procedures have their place and both have their risks. If FUT is not done properly then you can have damaged grafts, poor yield and stretching of your strip scar that will ruin your donor region. Both FUE and FUT come with risks if the procedure is not performed correctly. 

Both FUE and FUT have their advantages. With FUE, there is no linear scar, where with FUT, there is no need to shave the donor area. In good hands, both are equally effective. Some doctors offer only FUE because FUT requires a much larger staff equipment costs. I would suggest discussing your situation with a doctor that provides both techniques to determine which technique is best for yourself,Dr. Robert Jones

Most experienced transplant surgeons offer both surgeries.  There are specific indications of why one may be superior to the other.  It is true that FUE thins out the donor area, but this can also be the case with repeated strip harvesting procedures.  I think if you need a significant amount of hair transplanted then the FUT is the best way to go.  Only a consultation can determine the best procedure for you. Thanks for your inquiry.

Both techniques, FUE and FUT, are good ones.  Growth is comparable.  There are advantages and disadvantages to each, including the presence of a permanent linear scar after FUT vs. the more subtle scarring from an FUE in addition to the ones you list.  Depending on your personal characteristics, present and anticipated hair loss, hair density and desired hairstyle(s), either one may be the better choice for you.  A surgeon who offers both would be in a good position to discuss the relative benefits & limitations and let you decide which one you would prefer.  Performing FUE requires either expertise in harvesting grafts by hand or a machine that can do it.  Performing FUT requires a well-trained specialized staff to trim the grafts from the FUT strip.  Some surgeons thus find it more feasible to provide only one of the options.  If you feel GUT is best for you it shouldn't be hard to find someone who can provide that for you.

Both procedures when done in good hands by a skilled surgeon are equal. It is true that for large number of grafts, FUE is limited by the original donor density but that usually starts kicking in as shown in the web reference below