What would you recommend; Strip method vs. FUE technique for hair transplant?

I was an engineer working with Dr. Rassman in 1998 (before I became a doctor) .  My work involved a concept of a robot which would use a special optical sighting system to align the hairs for an automated FUE. This work became U.S. Patent 6572625 that we licensed to the ARTAS robot.  Similar technology from our U.S. Patents are used in the NeoGraft.  I perform FUE in my practice with my hybrid FUE instruments, ARTAS, or even NeoGraft.  My point is that I am very familiar with the FUE, ARTAS, NeoGraft, and all forms of harvesting hair follicles.Many doctors push FUE or Neograft or ARTAS claiming "no scar" or "minimally invasive". Many doctors dissuade patients from strip surgery asking "why would you want a big scar".The focus should be on RESULTS. Not how a doctor takes out the grafts. In terms of graft quality between FUE (ARTAS, Neograft) versus Strip, the Strip harvested grafts are generally better (which means better results).  The exceptions are the doctors with unskilled staff, then the ARTAS grafts will be better.From a donor scarring perspective, if you are ever going to shave your head or cut your hair really short, you should probably get the FUE.  That is it.  If a "line scar" scares you, then get the FUE.  Just remember a 4000 graft FUE scar is like having a collective open wound hole the size of a baseball on the back of the head. There is nothing minimally invasive about that. I also perform Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) and fix horrible FUE scars routinely.  These is nothing "scarless" about FUE.  I have performed surgery on Dr. Rassman and his family members using the strip technique.  The linear scar on Dr. Rassman is a pencil thin line you probably will have a hard time finding.  The point is, a strip surgery scar is not as terrible as the Internet makes it out to be. The focus should be on Results. A bad hair transplant result from FUE or Strip is like Herpes.  You'll carry it with you for life.

With Follicular Unit Extraction, tiny punches are used. Therefore there is no linear scar. And patients can choose to wear their hair as short as they would like. With strip surgery, hair grafts can only be extracted from the donor safe regions on the lower part of the scalp or the sides. However, this is where hair tends to grow the thickest. Using these follicles may not produce the most natural looking results, particularly in areas like the hairline edge where hair is naturally much finer.Neither method will necessarily produce better growth than the other. Yield will mostly depend on how the follicles were selected and handled. This requires experience and skill on behalf of the surgeon. Therefore, it would be most important to carefully evaluate the past work of doctors you are considering. 

Both strip and FUE methods are good for hair transplantation and yield almost identical results. As a surgeon who performs both procedures I like to individualize the technique for each patient. Most FUE candidates choose the procedure so that they can wear their hair short since the tiny scars are not apparent. If this is not a concern for you, I would go with the strip technique since it can yield more hairs in one session and is less expensive. There is more of a comparison between the technique in the website:

Below are critical questions that you need answers to before moving forward with an FUE clinic.  1) Is your Doctor the person doing the FUE harvesting or is a Physician Assistant or technician doing the harvesting? 2) How long has your surgeon been doing FUE and FUE harvesting? 3) How many FUE cases does your doctor perform monthly?  4) If your doctor does both Strip and FUE, Does your doctor perform more strip cases then FUE cases monthly?

Hi shayda,
As the name suggests, strip harvesting is performed by dissecting a little strip of hair follicles from a donor site. The key difference between the two follicular techniques of hair transplants lies in the process of harvesting follicles.
In FUE, the surgeon harvests individual follicular units containing 1 to 4 hairs from the donor site. While in FUT, a longer linear strip of hairs extracted from the donor site, followed by manual dissection into smaller grafts.
Procedure Comparison
Based on feasibility, harvesting and implanting can be performed in a single session. In both techniques, the patient’s scalp is cleaned with a disinfectant solution.
Patient’s are given a local anesthetic, usually consisting of lidocaine with epinephrine, to numb the area that is going to be treated and to help control the bleeding.
An incision is performed to cut vertically into the scalp to harvest donor hair without hurting the follicular units. Incisions are usually only so deep that harvesting the entire follicular unit is possible.
Healing & Recovery
The treatment areas heal in several days after the procedure. Human scalps have a large number of vessels, thus after the treatment surrounding tissue begins nourishing the transplanted follicles.
In both strip and follicular treatments, you can return to work and almost all daily activities the next day. But strenuous activities and heavy lifting should be avoided until 7 to 12 days have passed or as advised by your surgeon.
Strip or FUE, which is better?
This can depend on some factors. My advice would be to visit a board certified and well experienced hair transplant surgeon in your city for a one-on-one consultation and physical examination. Based on your medical history etc. and the severity of your condition, you and your surgeon can mutually come to a conclusion.
Hope this helps.