Is it better to have FUT before FUE if you want to maximize the amount of total grafts transplanted in a lifetime?

Internet is a place for information but it is also a place for misinformation. Don't rely on the Internet to make decisions for personal medical issues.FUE is just a harvesting method for those people who do not want a linear scar because they want to wear their hair very short.  You will still have scarring with FUE and in some cases have a "moth eaten" appearance to your donor area if too many FUE grafts are harvested.Keep in mind the ultimate end result depends on the hair line design and how to grafts are PUT BACK IN TO YOUR SCALP  (not how it was taken out via FUE or Strip).It is best to see a doctor who specialize in both FUE and Strip surgery in person and discuss your goals and explore your personalized options.

I agree with the comment below that there is no clear cut answer to this question.  Some surgeons will say that FUT will allow them to maximize the amount of hair transplanted in one session, but even FUT surgery can be combined with FUE surgery in the same session.  I think most surgeons would agree that a combination of FUE and FUT (not necessarily in any order) will allow for the maximum harvesting of grafts in a lifetime until the donor region is exhausted.

Hey there, 
In FUE hair transplant, every follicular unit is taken right from the scalp, individually. There isn’t a strip of tissue which is extracted. Also, the follicles are removed in a way that is random, this ensures lower density within the donor area.
When performed correctly, there is minimal to null evidence of a procedure on the donor area. This works great for those who want a thicker hair look, without obvious signs of cosmetic surgery showing at the donor part of the body. 
In FUT hair transplant, a patient’s hair is transplanted in small groups of 1 – 4 hairs. The groups are naturally-occurring. These units also feature oil glands known as sebaceous glands.
Besides the glands, they have a compact muscle, nerves and sometimes, vellus hairs that are very fine.
Which treatment is best?
Lets set the comparisons of individual hair transplant techniques aside. We need to assert the importance of the fact that, which technique is more suitable to which patient depends on a host of factors.
Degrees of hair loss or baldness, reasons for hair loss, medical history and lifestyle are few of the factors that come to mind. Hence it is often bet advised to meet a hair transplant surgeon for a personal consultation.
Based on the factors and your convenience, you and your surgeon can then mutually decide what technique is best for you.
Hope this answers your question.

I do not agree that first having FUT and then having FUE is a better option. It is all about harvesting possible safe amount from the donor site . Every case is unique and for some cases FUE and for some FUT should be considered first. On the other hand I perform FUE+FUT on the same session to harvest more grafts without pushing the limits of both methods.

I disagree that one should start with FUE. It produces lower growth yields and injures more donor area than FUT. And yes, if you have FUE first and then have FUT the strip will not only have missing follicles because they were removed via FUE but dead follicles as well (leaving just scar) due to the FUE trauma. Do FUT first, then FUE.

I practice both FUT as well as FUE ( although primarily FUE) but I have been able to extract more grafts by doing FUT before FUE in advanced grades of baldness. But in the second and third sitting ( if required) it is better to undergo FUE to increase the available number of grafts.

Your question is a good one - and doesn't have a yes or no answer.If you are likely to have a class VI balding pattern, then yes, you can get more grafts with FUT than FUE in a lifetime.If you are likely to be a class II or III, it makes little difference.As to whether one does FUT or FUE first makes little difference mathematicallyif you do strip (FUT) first, then you will be doing FUE second on an area with slightly less density than original because there is less density in the scalp after FUTIf you do FUE first, then you will be doing FUT second on an area that has less density than original because there is less density after FUEOverall though- more grafts (and more surviving grafts) are likely with FUT than FUE.

FUE does not create a potentially wide linear scar in the donor area, which requires more hair above and below the scar in order to conceal the scar.  For this reason, you can typically harvest more grafts with FUE than by strip method.  Maximal harvesting with strips results in other complications, as well, such as distortion of hair growth angles and the marriage of coarse hair above the scar with finer hair below the scar.  Strips are far better when you need only a limited number of grafts. 

First, when you ask a doctor this type of question, you need to be sure that the doctor does not have a prejudice because of matters unrelated to the question. As we have done manual FUE for 19 years and we pioneered this technology, and are the inventors of the robotic FUE and originated to FUT strip surgeries in 1993, we have developed a lot of experience in all of these technologies. Now with that said, we have done strip surgeries to over 10,000 grafts with people with Class 7 balding patterns. That, to my knowledge has never been done with FUE. 

In my opinion you have the best chance of optimally utilizing your lifetime donor hair  by doing strip harvesting first. Strip harvesting can be repeated after which FUE can be done.