FUT Hair Transplant (Strip Method)

FUT, follicular unit transplantation, harvests hair by removing a narrow strip of scalp from the back of the head. Technicians dissect the strip under microscopes into individual follicular units of one to four hairs, which are then implanted into the thinning areas.

It can yield a large number of grafts from the safest part of the donor zone without shaving the whole head. The trade-off is a fine linear scar across the back of the scalp, which shows if you wear your hair very short.

What FUT Hair Transplant (Strip Method) involves

The surgeon first tests scalp laxity and marks a strip, typically 1 to 1.5 centimetres wide and 15 to 25 centimetres long, in the permanent zone. The hair over the strip is trimmed; the hair above is left long to cover the wound. After local anaesthetic, the strip is removed with a blade angled along the follicles to avoid cutting them, and the edges are closed with a trichophytic technique that lets hair grow through the scar. While the team dissects the strip into grafts kept in chilled solution, the surgeon designs the hairline and makes recipient sites with fine blades or needles at the correct angle and density. Grafts are placed with forceps or implanters. Stitches or staples are removed after 10 to 14 days.

Who is a good candidate for FUT Hair Transplant (Strip Method)?

FUT suits people who need many grafts and keep their hair at a medium length.

• Advanced hair loss needing a large session while preserving donor area for future FUE
• People who do not want to shave their head for surgery, including many women
• Good scalp laxity
• Tightly curled hair, where strip dissection can reduce follicle damage
• Willingness to wear hair at least about 1 to 2 centimetres long at the back

It is usually not the right choice if:

• People who like a skin fade or shaved head
• A tight scalp, or a tendency to keloid or wide scars
• Those who have already had several strips and lost laxity
• Unstable or diffuse hair loss affecting the donor zone
• Athletes who cannot avoid neck strain for a few weeks

Technique options

• Classic FUT strip: Single strip with trichophytic closure; the standard approach.
• FUT combined with FUE: Both methods in one or successive sessions to maximise total lifetime grafts in extensive baldness.
• FUE alone: Dot-like scattered scars instead of a line; better for short hairstyles but thins the donor area diffusely.
• Scar revision or FUE into the scar: Options if a strip scar heals wide.

What happens during your treatment

A session lasts 4 to 8 hours under local anaesthetic, often with a mild oral sedative. The injections sting for a minute or two; after that you feel pressure only and can watch a film or doze. You go back to your hotel the same day with a dressing over the donor wound. Tightness at the back of the head is the main complaint for the first nights.

Preparing for your trip

Plan for 3 to 4 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.

• Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
• Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
• Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
• Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly

Recovery and results

Sleep with your head raised for 3 to 4 nights. Washing is taught on day 2 or 3. Crusts fall off in 7 to 10 days, and sutures come out at 10 to 14 days, which can be done by a nurse at home. Avoid heavy lifting and neck stretching for 3 to 4 weeks to keep the scar narrow. Transplanted hairs shed at 2 to 6 weeks, regrow from month 3 or 4, and the result matures at 12 to 15 months.

• Back to everyday activity: 7 to 10 days
• When results show: Growth from 3 to 4 months, final at 12 to 15 months
• How long they last: Transplanted hair is lasting; native hair may keep thinning

Safety, risks and revision policy

Most problems relate to the donor wound.

• A widened or stretched donor scar
• Numbness or tightness above the scar for some months
• Temporary shock loss of surrounding native hair
• Infection or folliculitis
• Poor graft survival if grafts dry out or are handled roughly
• An unnatural hairline from poor design

Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.

Cost of FUT Hair Transplant (Strip Method) in Türkiye

Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for FUT Hair Transplant (Strip Method), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:

• Number of grafts needed
• Size and experience of the dissection team
• Whether FUE is combined in the same session
• Surgeon involvement in harvesting and site creation
• Medication and PRP add-ons, which are optional

Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.

Frequently Asked Questions