FUT carries specific risks that every candidate should understand before committing to surgery. The most significant is a permanent linear scar in the donor area. Other risks include temporary numbness, infection, wound complications, and the possibility of suboptimal graft growth.
Here is an honest assessment of each risk, its likelihood, and how to minimize it.
FUT Risk Overview
| Risk | Likelihood | Duration | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear donor scar | 100% (inherent to FUT) | Permanent | Cosmetic, hideable |
| Temporary numbness | 80-90% of patients | 4-8 weeks | Mild |
| Swelling | 50-70% of patients | 3-7 days | Mild |
| Shock loss | 10-20% of patients | Temporary (regrows) | Mild to moderate |
| Infection | Less than 1% | 1-2 weeks with treatment | Moderate |
| Wound dehiscence | 1-3% | 2-4 weeks to re-heal | Moderate |
| Permanent numbness | Less than 2% | Permanent | Mild |
| Keloid or hypertrophic scar | 2-5% (higher in predisposed patients) | Ongoing | Moderate |
| Poor graft survival | 5-10% partial | Permanent | Moderate to severe |
The Linear Scar
The defining risk of FUT is the linear scar. Every FUT patient receives one. The strip removal creates a wound that heals as a scar running horizontally across the back of the head.
What Affects Scar Quality
Closure technique matters most. Trichophytic closure angles one wound edge so that hair follicles grow through the scar line, significantly reducing visibility. A skilled surgeon using this technique produces a scar that is difficult to detect with hair at 1cm or longer.
Scalp laxity also plays a role. Patients with tight scalps experience more tension on the wound edges, potentially leading to a wider scar. If you have limited laxity, your surgeon should reduce strip width to prevent excessive wound tension.
Genetics influence scarring as well. Patients prone to keloid or hypertrophic scarring face a higher risk of a raised, thickened scar. Discuss your scarring history with your surgeon before choosing FUT.
For a side-by-side comparison of FUT scarring versus FUE, see our FUE vs FUT comparison.
Numbness and Nerve Damage
The strip removal cuts through superficial sensory nerves in the donor area. This causes numbness in the skin surrounding the scar.
Recovery of Sensation
For 80-90% of patients, sensation returns within 4-8 weeks as nerves regenerate. The area may tingle or feel hypersensitive during recovery. In fewer than 2% of cases, some degree of numbness persists permanently, though the affected area is small and rarely bothersome.
Wound Complications
Dehiscence (Wound Opening)
Wound dehiscence occurs in 1-3% of FUT patients, typically because of excessive physical activity too soon after surgery or poor wound tension management. If the wound partially opens, it heals by secondary intention (from the inside out), resulting in a wider scar.
Prevention: avoid strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks, follow all post-operative restrictions, and attend your suture removal appointment on schedule.
Infection
Infection occurs in fewer than 1% of FUT cases when performed in a proper clinical setting. Standard post-operative antibiotics reduce risk further.
Warning signs appearing after day 3: increasing redness around the donor wound, warmth, pus or colored discharge, fever, or worsening pain. Contact your surgeon immediately if you notice these symptoms. Early antibiotic treatment resolves most infections without affecting graft survival.
Shock Loss
Shock loss refers to temporary shedding of existing native hairs surrounding the transplanted area or the donor wound. It occurs in 10-20% of patients and is caused by the trauma of surgery temporarily pushing nearby follicles into a resting phase.
Shock loss is almost always temporary. The affected hairs regrow within 3-6 months. It is more common in patients with fine, miniaturized hair in the recipient area. Finasteride or minoxidil before and after surgery can reduce shock loss risk.
Poor Graft Survival
FUT achieves 90-95% graft survival with experienced surgeons. The 5-10% of grafts that do not survive are lost due to handling damage during dissection, extended time outside the body, or post-operative trauma (touching, rubbing, or dislodging grafts in the first 48 hours).
Factors that reduce graft survival:
- Inexperienced dissection team (higher transection rates)
- Grafts left outside a holding solution for too long
- Patient not following aftercare (sleeping face down, touching grafts, smoking)
- Infection or poor blood supply to recipient area
Choosing an experienced surgeon with a skilled dissection team is the single most effective way to ensure high graft survival.
How to Minimize FUT Risks
Choose a surgeon with documented FUT experience and before/after photos showing donor scars. Verify they use trichophytic closure. Follow every aftercare instruction. Do not smoke for at least 2 weeks before and after surgery. Report any concerning symptoms immediately rather than waiting.
Understanding your Norwood stage and whether your scalp laxity supports FUT is critical before committing to the procedure.
FAQ
What are the risks of FUT hair transplant?
FUT risks include a permanent linear scar in the donor area, temporary numbness lasting 4-8 weeks, infection (less than 1% incidence), wound dehiscence, shock loss of surrounding hair, and poor graft survival if aftercare is not followed. Most complications are minor and resolve within weeks.
Does FUT leave a visible scar?
FUT leaves a linear scar in the donor area that heals to a thin line over 6-12 months. With trichophytic closure, hair grows through the scar line, reducing visibility. The scar is hideable with hair at 1cm or longer but is visible with a shaved head.
Can FUT cause permanent numbness?
Temporary numbness around the donor scar is common and typically resolves within 4-8 weeks. Permanent numbness is rare, occurring in fewer than 2% of cases when performed by an experienced surgeon.
What is the infection rate for FUT?
The infection rate for FUT is less than 1% when performed in a sterile clinical environment with proper aftercare. Post-operative antibiotics are standard. Early treatment resolves most infections without affecting graft survival.
Can FUT surgery fail?
FUT can produce suboptimal results if the surgeon lacks experience, grafts are handled poorly, or aftercare instructions are not followed. Graft survival rates are 90-95% with experienced surgeons. Complete failure is extremely rare.
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