FUT hair transplant (strip method)

FUT is the older of the two main hair transplant methods, and it is still used today. It is often cheaper per graft than FUE, and it can move many grafts in one session, but it leaves a line scar at the back of the head. This guide explains how FUT works, who it may suit and what it generally costs in India. It is general information, not medical advice. Only a qualified doctor who examines you can say whether FUT suits you and how many grafts you need.

What FUT is

FUT stands for follicular unit transplantation. It is also called the strip method or strip surgery. Instead of removing hair one unit at a time, as in FUE, the surgeon removes a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the back of the head. The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) describes a strip about 0.5 to 1.5 cm wide and 5 to 30 cm long, depending on how many grafts are needed.

The team then divides the strip under magnification into follicular units, the natural groups of one to four hairs. These grafts are placed into small openings in the thinning area, as in FUE. The difference between the two methods is in how the donor hair is taken. The placing stage is much the same.

How an FUT procedure works, step by step

1. Consultation and planning. A doctor examines your scalp and donor area, discusses the area to be covered and the number of grafts, and checks your health. Blood tests are usually done beforehand.
2. Local anaesthetic. The donor area and the thinning area are numbed. You stay awake. Some clinics also use mild sedation.
3. Removing the strip. The surgeon removes a strip from the back of the head. The hair above it is not shaved, so it covers the area afterwards.
4. Closing the wound. The wound is closed with stitches or staples. Some surgeons use a trichophytic closure, which trims a thin edge of the wound so that hair can grow through the scar and make it harder to see.
5. Dividing the strip. Technicians or the surgical team cut the strip into individual grafts.
6. Making openings and placing grafts. The doctor makes small openings in the thinning area, and the grafts are placed into them.
7. Aftercare. You go home the same day with instructions and a date to have the stitches removed.

Who FUT may suit

The ISHRS describes several groups for whom FUT can be a reasonable choice: - people who wear their hair longer than about an inch and do not want to shave the back of the head, because the donor area stays unshaven and the strip site is hidden during recovery - women who do not wear their hair short, for the same reason - people with advanced hair loss who need a large number of grafts in one session, because FUT can move many grafts at once - older patients, because scars tend to heal better with age

FUT may not suit you if you like to wear your hair very short at the back, because the line scar may show. If your hair loss is still changing quickly, or it has a cause other than pattern hair loss, it needs a diagnosis and a longer-term plan first.

FUT compared with FUE

Neither method suits everyone. Many surgeons offer both and advise based on your hair, your donor area and how you wear your hair. Our FUE vs FUT guide compares them in more depth, and the FUE guide explains the other method.

What FUT costs in India

FUT is usually the lowest-priced method per graft. The ISHRS notes that FUT usually costs less because it needs less work from the surgeon. In our price research, fewer clinics published FUT prices than FUE prices, so the evidence for FUT is thinner.

Our national estimate for FUT is ₹20 to ₹40 per graft, with a wider market range of about ₹15 to ₹60 per graft.

These are estimates, not quotes, and they exclude GST. For large sessions we apply a lower rate per graft, because clinics often price big sessions that way. For comparison, standard FUE is estimated at ₹30 to ₹60 per graft.

What you actually pay can also depend on: - your city, since metro clinics generally charge more - how much of the work the surgeon does personally - what the package includes, such as tests, medicines, follow-ups and PRP sessions (PRP is often ₹4,000 to ₹9,000 per session)

See how we estimate costs for our method, and the cost per graft guide for more graft counts. For local figures and clinics, start at the India hub and choose your city. Estimates updated 25 September 2026.

Recovery after FUT

Recovery after FUT is similar to FUE in the grafted area. The donor area takes a little longer because it has a stitched wound. Your clinic's instructions come first. As a general guide: - First few days: the NHS says the scalp may feel tight, achy and swollen. - About 10 to 14 days: the NHS says stitches are usually removed at this stage. - Back to work: the NHS says most people return after 1 to 2 weeks. - 2 to 8 weeks: the transplanted hairs usually fall out. The AAD says this is normal. - Around 4 months: new growth usually begins. - 6 to 12 months or longer: the AAD says most people see results between 6 and 9 months, and some take 12. The NHS gives 10 to 18 months for the full result.

Our recovery guide has more detail.

Risks and side effects

FUT is surgery. Possible problems include bleeding, infection, allergic reaction and grafts that do not grow, as the NHS notes for all hair transplants. FUT always leaves a line scar. It is usually thin and hidden by hair, but it can be visible with very short hair. Our guide on whether a hair transplant is safe covers risks in more depth.