Does FUT leave a scar and is it visible?

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    Surveyed from the published FAQs of 15 hair transplant providers. The percentage on each highlighted claim is the share of surveyed providers who make that claim on their own sites — it shows how common a claim is, not that it is true. Hover to see who.

    Also asked as: “Does FUT leave a scar?” · “Will FUT leave a visible scar?” · “Will FUT leave a scar?” · “Does FUT leave a visible scar?”

    Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) results in a linear scar87%Stated by 87% of the providers we surveyed. Including Advanced Hair, Vagus, Dr. Sahar Nadimi, Balance Hair Restoration, Hair Clinic India, The Hair And Shape Clinic, and 7 more. at the donor site. Most clinics claim that this scar is usually concealed by surrounding hair73%Stated by 73% of the providers we surveyed. Including Dr. Andre Nel Hair Restoration, Orlando Robotic Hair Resoration, Surgery Group, Hair Xpert & Aesthetic clinic, Dr. Stefano Cotrufo, Dr. Rogers, and 5 more. when kept at a moderate length.

    About half of clinics assert that the trichophytic closure technique minimizes the visibility40%Stated by 40% of the providers we surveyed. Including Avenues, Ashu, Vagus, and 3 more. of the linear scar. However, about a quarter of providers acknowledge that the linear scar from FUT33%Stated by 33% of the providers we surveyed. Including Avenues, Advanced Hair, Dr. Sahar Nadimi, and 2 more. may be visible with very short hairstyles. This presents a contradiction, as some clinics emphasize the effectiveness of trichophytic closure, while others concede that the scar can still be noticeable with shorter haircuts.

    Regarding the scar's characteristics, some providers state that the linear scar from FUT is typically 1 to 3 mm wide33%Stated by 33% of the providers we surveyed. Including Dr. Andre Nel Hair Restoration, Ashu, Dr. Rogers, and 2 more.. Some strip scars stretch wider than this. In one series of 73 men, mostly after strip surgery, 15% had a wide donor scar and 11% had numbness or tingling, and raised scars occurred in isolated cases (Loganathan et al. 2014, PMID 25368473). Keloid scars are rare but possible (Garg & Garg 2021, PMID 34984088). Additionally, the same proportion of clinics describe the scar's location as at the back of the scalp, running roughly ear to ear33%Stated by 33% of the providers we surveyed. Including Balance Hair Restoration, Hair Xpert & Aesthetic clinic, Vagus, and 2 more..

    Some providers recommend that it is worth discussing scar management20%Stated by 20% of the providers we surveyed. Including Needs Hair Studio, Dr. Andre Nel Hair Restoration, Hair Xpert & Aesthetic clinic. with your surgeon as part of your treatment plan. This discussion can help set realistic expectations and explore options for minimizing the scar's visibility.

    What clinics say

    Claims from clinics' own websites

    In their own words — the 13 clinics whose published guidance fed this answer.

    1. No, at Avenues Cosmetic we use trichophytic closure, making scars nearly invisible even with short hair.
      Avenues Ahmedabad, IN
    2. Yes, FUT leaves a linear scar at the donor site where the strip of scalp was removed.
      Advanced Hair Restoration Oakbrook Terrace, US
    3. FUT may leave a linear scar in the donor area, but with proper surgical planning and closure techniques, the scar can often be well …
      Hair Clinic India Rasapūdipalem, IN
    4. FUT leaves one thin linear scar at the back of the scalp.
      Vagus Islamabad, PK
    5. Yes, FUT results in a linear scar at the donor site, but Dr. Nadimi uses an advanced “trichophytic closure” technique to minimize its visibility.
      Dr. Sahar Nadimi Schererville, US
    6. FUT’s linear scar is often seen as a drawback.
      Balance Hair Restoration Ann Arbor, US
    7. FUT leaves a single fine linear scar in the donor area at the back of the head.
      Dr. Andre Nel Hair Restoration Swords, IE
    8. FUT typically results in a fine linear scar within the donor area.
      The Hair And Shape Clinic Mumbai, IN
    9. Yes, FUT leaves a linear scar, but it is usually well concealed by surrounding hair when properly healed, especially if the …
      Orlando Robotic Hair Resoration Orlando, US
    10. Yes, a fine linear scar remains, but it’s usually concealed under existing hair.
      Surgery Group Gloucester, GB
    11. A standard FUT closure leaves a linear scar 1 to 3 mm wide.
      Ashu Bhubaneswar, IN
    12. Yes, but the linear scar is usually hidden under the hairline and heals well with proper care.
      Hair Xpert & Aesthetic clinic Peshawar, PK
    13. FUT involves removing a strip of donor tissue, so it's worth discussing scar management with your surgeon as part of your treatment plan.
      Needs Hair Studio Hyderabad, IN