What is a FUT hair transplant?

A FUT hair transplant — Follicular Unit Transplantation, also known as the “strip method” — is a surgical procedure in which a thin strip of hair-bearing skin is removed from the back of the scalp, then divided under magnification into individual follicular units that are transplanted into the thinning or balding area. It is the original modern transplant technique and the predecessor to FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction).

The defining difference is how the donor hair is harvested. FUT takes a single strip of tissue and closes the donor site with sutures, leaving a fine linear scar. FUE removes follicles one by one with a small punch, leaving tiny scattered dot scars instead. Everything that happens after harvesting — separating the grafts and placing them — is broadly the same in both techniques.

How does a FUT procedure actually work?

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic as a day case, typically taking four to eight hours depending on the number of grafts. The stages are:

1. Consultation & planning. Donor density, scalp laxity and the design of the recipient area are assessed. Your suitability and graft plan are reviewed by our medical team.
2. Strip removal. A narrow strip of skin is excised from the mid-occipital “safe zone” at the back of the head, where hair is genetically resistant to thinning.
3. Donor closure. The edges are closed with sutures (or staples). Careful trichophytic closure techniques encourage hair to grow through the resulting line.
4. Graft dissection. The strip is divided under microscopes into natural follicular units of one to four hairs.
5. Recipient site creation & placement. Tiny incisions are made at the correct angle and density, and the grafts are placed to recreate a natural pattern.

FUT vs FUE: which is better?

This is the question almost every patient asks, and for the overwhelming majority the answer is FUE. FUE avoids a linear scar, allows very short haircuts afterwards, and has a faster, more comfortable recovery. FUT’s historical advantages — slightly higher graft counts per session and marginally lower cost per graft — rarely outweigh the downsides for a modern patient.

For a full breakdown of the modern technique, read our FUE hair transplant UK guide.

Who is FUT suitable for — and who isn’t?

Because FUE is our default recommendation, FUT is considered only in a narrow set of circumstances. The table below sets out where the strip method may still have a role.

FUT is suitable for all Norwood stages in principle, but suitability is driven far more by the condition of your donor area and your styling preferences than by the extent of loss. Your candidacy is always reviewed by our medical team before anything is recommended.

What about the FUT scar?

The trade-off that defines FUT is the donor scar. Because a strip of skin is removed, the donor site is closed in a line, leaving a fine linear scar running horizontally across the back of the head. With expert closure this scar is usually narrow and easily concealed by hair worn at a grade 3 or longer.

The practical limitation is haircut length. If you like to wear your hair very short or shaved, the linear scar can become visible — which is exactly why FUE is preferred for most patients. The scar is permanent; it can be softened later with scalp micropigmentation or a small FUE graft session into the line, but it cannot be fully removed.

What is FUT recovery like?

Recovery from FUT follows a predictable timeline, with the donor area being the main difference from FUE.

You will be given clear, written aftercare instructions, and Vinci provides 24-hour emergency support throughout your early recovery. Following the aftercare carefully is the single biggest factor in protecting your graft survival.

Grafts, density and yield

FUT can yield a large number of grafts in a single session because an entire strip is harvested at once, and microscopic dissection preserves the follicular units well. A typical session ranges from around 1,500 to 3,500 grafts, depending on donor laxity and the area being restored.

Graft survival in a well-performed procedure is high, but it is never guaranteed by surgery alone. In our experience graft failure usually results from patient aftercare rather than the surgery itself. Because of this, complimentary corrective treatment is not offered where failure results from not following the aftercare instructions. In the rare cases where a problem is genuinely surgery-related, Vinci offers full support to rectify it.

How much does FUT cost in the UK?

FUT pricing in the UK is broadly similar to FUE and is driven by the number of grafts and the complexity of your case. The figures below are indicative ranges for planning purposes — your exact quote is confirmed after your donor area and plan are reviewed by our medical team.

Vinci offers 0% finance over 24 months on all plans above £2,500 (subject to status). For a full comparison across techniques and clinics, see our hair transplant cost UK breakdown.

The Vinci position on FUT

Vinci has more than 20 clinics worldwide and the experience to perform FUT to a high standard. But experience also tells us that the strip method is the right answer only in a small minority of cases. In 99.9% of cases FUE is the better option — it avoids a linear scar, recovers faster and gives you the freedom to wear your hair however you like.

Where FUT does have a role, it is principally for patients whose donor area has already been damaged by previous surgeries, where a strip harvest can work around existing scar tissue. Whatever the technique, every treatment plan is reviewed by our medical team to make sure it is genuinely the right choice for you.

Frequently asked questions