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Is the Combined FUE and FUT Right for You?

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Is the Combined FUE and FUT Right for You?

Male Hair Restoration, ,

Men experiencing advanced hair loss may feel that they are beyond the help that hair restoration surgery can provide – or feel discouraged over the length of time and number of surgeries required to achieve results. With the breakthrough combined FUE and FUT procedure gaining prominence, however, those who believed that they had to resign themselves to baldness are wondering if this is the ideal solution for their situation.

For those just learning about hair transplant procedures, Tempus Hair Restoration provides the following definitions:

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) – In this procedure, follicular units (hair grafts) in groupings of one, two or three hairs are individually extracted from the back of the head (donor area) using small circular punch blades instead of a scalpel. The grafts are then transplanted to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. Once the desired number of grafts are obtained, the donor sites are left to heal without suturing. The resulting scars are not readily visible and are easily concealed even by very short hair.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) – Also known as the “strip” method, the FUT procedure involves harvesting a very small strip of hair and skin from the donor area, then placing it under a microscope to be prepared for implantation as hair grafts. The FUT has undergone refinements over the years so that the only evidence is a pencil-line linear scar easily concealed by hair – even at a shorter length.

Our blog post – “An Up-close Look at Hair Grafts” – covers the anatomy, harvesting, treatment, preparation and implantation of grafts in greater detail.

What is the Combined FUE and FUT Hair Transplant Procedure?

Although the FUE and FUT are different procedures, they can be used in tandem. Among his many contributions to the hair transplantation field, Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – is known for pioneering the combined FUE and FUT technique, which covers large areas of baldness in a single surgery. Patients with advanced hair loss are typically required to undergo multiple hair transplant procedures to obtain coverage of their entire bald scalp – having to wait one year or more between procedures. The reason is that most practices – particularly those solely offering FUE treatments – can move only a certain amount of grafts in one procedure, due to limitations of the surgeon’s experience and/or surgical staff. The combined FUE and FUT allows patients to reach their ultimate goal sooner, with one procedure versus many.

Performed during the same surgery, each type of procedure makes it possible to harvest grafts from different donor areas in order to attain the optimum number for transplantation – without the risk of overharvesting. This is important, as once a graft is harvested from a donor site, hair will never grow there again. An inexperienced surgeon – such as one who specializes in another area, such as cosmetic surgery – or allows non-medical personnel to harvest grafts using a robotic device – can deplete the donor area and/or leave visible scars.

Dr. Barusco has found that a common misconception he encounters among his patients is that the FUE procedure is “non-invasive.” In fact, all surgical procedures are invasive, as they involve making an incision in the skin. When performed correctly, an FUE will appear to leave no scars. As mentioned earlier, the tiny dot-like scars are hidden by the hair – thereby seeming to be invisible to the patient and casual observers.

Who is a Good Candidate for a Combined FUE and FUT Procedure?

While only a hair restoration surgeon with extensive experience in this procedure can determine if your type of hair loss positions you as an appropriate candidate based upon an in-depth consultation, there are two main parameters:

  • Men diagnosed with genetic hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) whose hair loss has stabilized, and have a stable hair loss pattern.
  • Men who have a reduced amount of donor hair available because of previous hair restoration surgery or an overall sparse donor area.

As exciting as the combined FUE and FUT procedure is, be aware that this is an advanced procedure and should be performed only by surgeons and teams with a large amount of experience. To determine if the surgeon you’re consulting is qualified to perform the combined FUE and FUT, ask the following questions – which we highly recommend you ask during a consultation for any type of hair restoration procedure:

  • How often have you performed this procedure?
  • Who will evaluate my hair loss and recommend a course of treatment? What is their education, training, licensure, and experience in treating hair loss? Only physicians, Physician’s Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are legally allowed to diagnose a patient and to recommend medical treatments. Otherwise, the person recommending procedures and/or treatments is practicing medicine without a license, a Felony crime in Florida and many other states.
  • Who will be involved in performing my surgery, what role will they play, and what is their education, training, licensure, and experience performing hair restoration surgery?
  • Will anyone not allowed by the State Medical Board be making incisions or harvesting grafts during my surgery? If so, please identify this person, explain their specific role and why they are legally permitted to perform it.
  • Is everyone involved in my surgery covered by malpractice insurance?

Choose Your Surgeon Wisely for Your Hair Restoration Journey

Keep in mind that the success of any hair transplant procedure ultimately depends upon the experience, skill and integrity of the surgeon. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device.

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

Was 2021 a Very Good Year? Plan on Making 2022 Even Better by Getting Your Hair Back!

Male Hair Restoration,

As the world began to reopen in 2021, the plans that had to be postponed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic were resumed. Yet even if 2021 was a good year for you, perhaps some goals still had to be put off – for example, a hair restoration procedure. If this was the case, 2022 can be the year you get your hair back!

Should a hair transplant be on your new year’s resolutions list, you need to be up-to-date on the significant advancements that have been made in the hair restoration field. As you begin researching your options, be aware that not all hair transplant surgeons or clinics offer every procedure – especially those requiring significant experience and top-level skill. Also keep in mind that even such popular procedures as the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) demand an experienced surgeon to achieve the desired aesthetic result. Avoid the pitfall of assuming that because the FUT and FUE are well-established procedures, all surgeons perform them equally well.

Advancements in FUE

Hair transplantation is constantly evolving. Improvements in techniques and technology make possible outcomes that not only look like natural hair growth, but involve less patient downtime. Developments in FUE provide an excellent example.

To start at the beginning, FUE is a surgical hair transplant technique in which follicular units in groupings of one, two or three hairs are individually extracted from the back of the head (donor area) using small circular punch blades instead of a scalpel. The grafts are then transplanted to the thinning or balding areas of the scalp. Once the desired number of grafts are obtained, the donor sites are left to heal without suturing.

One aspect of the procedure that can be a downside is that it requires the donor area be shaved in order to harvest each graft. For many, this can be a difficult, embarrassing process because of appearing in public with a half-shaved head. Some patients may have to take time off work in order to allow their hair to grow back.

For this reason, Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – developed the innovative No-Shave FUE, which completely conceals harvested donor sites immediately, allowing patients to resume their regular activities with very little downtime. Dr. Barusco has produced an informative video for his YouTube channel, “Hair Loss Medical Advice,” that describes the procedure in detail.

Now, going one step beyond the no-shave FUE is the long-hair FUE. It is also known as the “preview” long-hair FUE because it gives the patient a preview of what the ultimate result will be. As with any hair transplant, the hair in the newly implanted grafts soon falls out, to be replaced by new growth as the grafts establish themselves. Dr. Barusco is one of only a few doctors in the world with the experience and skill to perform this technique.

Dr. Barusco explains the procedure in his Hair Loss Medical Advice video, Long-Hair FUE.

“It started with my good friend, Dr. Marcelo Pitchon from Brazil. I’m from Brazil originally. He popularized the method of the long-hair transplant with the strip method a few years ago. Nowadays, with the advantage of certain types of equipment that we have, they allow us to harvest hairs via FUE and still maintain the hair shaft at the same length that it was – one or two inches in length sometimes – and then we can use that length inside, keeping the hair instead of clipping it short. And then when we transplant, the patient has a preview of their result. Obviously, this only lasts for a few days, since most of the hairs that we transplant fall out during the healing phase – but it allows the patient to have an idea of what the result is going to be like.

“It also allows me, as a surgeon, to see that I’m not missing anything. Maybe I need to add a bit more density in a little area that I’m working on. The surgery is very laborious and time-consuming to perform because the longer hair gets in the way, so it requires a lot of patience and skill.”

How Can You Know if an FUE Procedure is Right for You?

Because the traditional shaved FUE and no-shave FUE are well-known procedures, those interested in a hair transplant often request them. However, the type of hair transplant procedure that’s best for your particular situation may be different. Only a consultation with an ethical, conscientious surgeon who asks the right questions can help you determine the procedure that will provide the optimum immediate and long-term outcome. Our blog post – “Is the FUE Procedure Right for You?” – covers facts and possible risks (mainly from non-medical personnel performing the procedure) so that you can have a more productive consultation and be confident in your decision.

For even more in-depth information, watch Dr. Barusco’s videos – “Formal Indications for Hair Transplantation via FUE” – and “Contra-Indications for Hair Transplantation via FUE” – which covers the situations in which FUE is not (or should not be) recommended.

Choose Your Surgeon Wisely, and Get 2022 Off to a Great Start

If you’re determined to no longer delay restoring your hair, you deserve to know all of your options – and have an internationally recognized surgeon providing the right, and the best procedure for your individual situation.

Ultimately, choose your surgeon based on experience, results and integrity. Dr. Barusco’s long list of accomplishments, his notable artistic ability and his successful surgical team make Tempus Hair Restoration a renowned practice. Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more to our Port Orange, Florida, surgical center. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!

Spring Into Action Now – Making the Decision to Get a Hair Transplant

Dr Marco Barusco, , ,

Spring is typically the time for new beginnings. However, spring 2020 was anything but typical. Many plans had to be put on hold, or canceled entirely due to the spread of COVID-19. If you were considering a hair transplant earlier this year, the suspension of elective surgical procedures necessitated a delay in taking action. If you had not fully committed to scheduling a consultation with a hair restoration surgeon to learn your options, you’ve had a longer opportunity to think about it. Now that our Port Orange surgical center has reopened, the wait is over! Should you still be hesitant, here are some questions to ask yourself about how hair loss is affecting your self-esteem and other areas of your life.

 

How do you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror?

Do you feel older and less self-confident? The desire to regain a fuller head of hair and a more youthful hairline should not be considered vanity. You don’t want to look like a movie star – you just want to be able to recognize yourself as you see yourself. While well-meaning family members and friends may tell you that your self-esteem shouldn’t depend upon your physical appearance, it is human nature to feel better about yourself when you’re satisfied with the way you present yourself to the world. And that feeling can have a truly powerful effect.

As a great example that we like to share, Dr. Marco Barusco – Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Tempus Hair Restoration – was honored to receive a testimonial from a patient who described himself as plunging into a deep depression after his divorce. Deciding to have a hair transplant turned out to be the first step in his journey to improving his physical and psychological health. Inspired by the results of his transplant, the patient soon after joined a gym and lost a significant amount of weight. His success in this area then led him to undergo some cosmetic surgical procedures. Through these positive changes, he transformed himself into a healthy, fit, confident man who today is living his best life!

 

Do you feel that your hair loss is preventing you from getting a job or promotion – or getting back in the dating scene?

It may not be your imagination. Our blog post – “Does Hair Loss Hurt Your Career?” – referenced surveys and studies concluding that balding men are at a disadvantage during a job search or climbing the corporate ladder. According to Hiscock’s 2019 Ageism in the Workplace Study, more men than women feel that their advancing age has adversely impacted their careers – with 43% of men surveyed believing their age has prevented them from finding a new job.

The blog post was published before the pandemic. Because of the resulting societal changes, many job interviews are now conducted virtually, which can create an even more adverse situation for men experiencing hair loss.

While our blog post emphasized the effect of hair loss on men in professional-level jobs, the effect on those who make their living in the public eye can have especially devastating effects. English actor Jack P. Shepherd – star of the long-running daytime drama Coronation Street – recently discussed his two hair transplant surgeries, admitting that his hair loss had taken a toll on his mental health to the point that he almost quit the show. Now sporting a full head of hair again, the 32-year-old actor plans to enjoy many more years in front of the camera.

As for dating, the scene had been rapidly changing pre-pandemic. Dating apps have largely replaced in-person opportunities for meeting people, which means that a profile photo or video is all a prospective romantic prospect has to go by. Again, like it or not, appearances count, and you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression before someone scrolling through a dating app swipes left.

However, “appearances” can consist of a combination of positive traits that can shine through a photo: warm, twinkling eyes, self-confidence (that word again), inner-strength and kindness are all attractive qualities. If you’re apprehensive about being passed up because of a sparse head of hair, you’re not likely to project a high level of confidence in a photograph – or on an actual date.

 

Won’t people know I’ve had a hair transplant? Will it look odd right after surgery?

This is the time to weigh long-term benefits over short-term self-consciousness and inconvenience. However, some advanced procedures offer immediate concealment of donor areas of the scalp, as well as maximum coverage of large bald areas in one surgery.

For those who are good candidates, the advanced No-Shave FUE procedure pioneered by Dr. Barusco allows hair to be harvested from the donor site without having to shave your existing hair. The typical FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) procedure requires you to have your donor hair shaved, so everyone knows you had treatment unless you take off an extended period of time to let the shaved patches regrow.

Dr. Barusco developed the groundbreaking No-Shave FUE to eliminate this problem. It has become so popular that patients fly in from all over the world for this innovative procedure.

Dr. Barusco is also known for the combined FUE and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) technique, which is designed to treat advanced hair loss during a single surgery as opposed to several with a one-year waiting period between – as is typical. This procedure allows patients to achieve their ultimate goal in less time, with one procedure versus many.

Even the traditional FUT – otherwise known as the “strip” method – has undergone advances to the closure methods and the healing of the donor incision. In most cases, the resulting linear scar from a strip hair transplant surgery is small and thin, with the patient being able to cover it well without having to grow their hair very long. A haircut with # 3 or # 4 clippers on the back and sides of the head usually completely conceals the donor scar.

In the popular FUE procedure, hair follicles are individually extracted from the back and side of the patient’s head and individually transplanted to the recipient area. Although some hair restoration practices emphasize the FUE and try to steer patients away from the FUT, the FUE technique is not appropriate for everyone.

However, because each person experiencing hair loss has numerous factors that need to be considered – such as the cause of hair loss (genetic, scarring, medication, etc.), extent and area of hair loss, and medical history, among others – getting a hair transplant isn’t the same as ordering a meal from a menu. A consultation with a surgeon specializing in hair restoration will give the surgeon the information that he or she needs to make a diagnosis and determine the best procedure for your individual hair loss.

This is also the time to discuss with the surgeon how much (if any) downtime post-surgery recovery will require, how much (if any) areas of your scalp will show visible evidence of the procedure and when you can expect new growth.

Again, depending upon the procedure, others may be able to tell that you’ve undergone hair restoration surgery. But this should not be reason for embarrassment. Cosmetic procedures – both surgical and minimally invasive – are widely accepted in today’s society. In fact, you may be surprised by the support you’ll receive from those who admire you for taking this important step! You could even inspire your family and friends who have been considering a hair transplant to follow your lead.

 

Isn’t a hair transplant expensive?

Our blog post – “Busting Common Hair Transplant Myths” – covers this question in detail. We highly recommend you read the entire article, as there is a good deal of misinformation and deceptive marketing claims by some practices.

Unlike many other hair restoration practices and clinics, Tempus Hair Restoration does not have set-fee procedures or pricing per number of hair grafts. Our approach is to treat each client as an individual, taking into account such factors as the following:

  • Your specific type of hair loss
  • Amount of current and projected hair loss
  • Complexity of procedure
  • Ethnic background (which affects hair texture and growth patterns)
  • Medical history/pre-existing conditions
  • Desired aesthetic result
  • Additional relevant circumstances, depending upon your individual situation

Once Dr. Barusco has made a diagnosis and treatment plan, our patient educator will discuss next steps, including pricing and financing options. We offer qualified clients third-party 12-month interest-free financing — as well as low-interest 60-month financing. A hair restoration procedure by world-renowned surgeon Dr. Barusco can be within reach.

 

It isn’t too late to make the most of 2020!

Let’s face it – 2020 isn’t likely to be remembered as anyone’s favorite year. But if a hair transplant has been on your mind, you can greet 2021 with a new growth of hair on your head! If you remember the optimism you rang in this year with, it is still possible to make a positive change that will give you the sense of achievement you anticipated.

So what are you waiting for? Spring into action now! Contact us to schedule your free virtual consultation. Dr. Barusco conducts every consultation himself, giving you the opportunity to learn your options in the comfort of your home – or any location, on any internet-enabled device. 

Dr. Barusco conducts consultations in English, Spanish and Portuguese. For your greater convenience, Tempus Hair Restoration offers a two-night complimentary hotel stay to out-of-town clients who travel 100 miles or more. No matter how far the distance, we welcome the opportunity to help you on your hair restoration journey!