FUE vs. FUT-MD: Study of 1,780 Follicles in Four Patients

In a study conducted over a 3-year period on four patients, 890 follicular unit extraction (FUE) follicles and 890 follicular unit transplantation with microscopic dissection (FUT-MD) follicles were compared to determine their survival rates. The study, conducted by Dr. Michael L. Beehner, found that FUT-MD grafts had a higher survival rate than FUE grafts. The overall survival rate for the 890 FUE follicles was 61.4%, while the FUT-MD follicles had an 86% survival rate. When excluding the patient with the lowest FUE survival rate, the survival rate for FUE follicles increased to 70.1%, while the FUT-MD survival rate remained relatively stable at 86.9%. The study concluded that despite the increasing popularity of FUE, FUT-MD, which has been the gold standard for 25 years, showed higher follicle survival rates.