Rahal - FUE or FUT?

[dannyde7]

Hi Everyone,

 

I'm a long time lurker and first time poster to this forum and am looking for some advice on whether to go with an FUE or FUT from Dr. Rahal this summer. I'm almost 29 years old (NW II-III with a V-shaped forelock and a high hairline) and have already put my deposit down with Dr. Rahal's clinic for approximately 2000-2500 grafts. I want to be able to brush my hair straight back and show my entire hairline. Money is not an issue, at least for 2500 grafts.

 

Dr. Rahal's consultant has been extremely nice and has promptly answered all of my questions, claiming that Dr. Rahal's FUE results are on par with his FUT results. I'm definitely inclined to believe him, but there seems to be far fewer FUE pics from Dr. Rahal online (presumably because it's a newer form of surgery) and I've also read about some unfortunate experiences on this forum regarding FUE and Dr. Rahal, such as one patient having his surgery cancelled due to transections occurring, and two patients experiencing thinning in front and requiring 1,000+ touch ups.

 

That said, it seems like Dr. Rahal's strip surgeries are consistently excellent. However, I would really like to avoid a strip scar (I hate the idea of having tightness and not being able to exercise for 3 months) and I want to have a quicker-healing procedure as I will be starting a job approximately 2 months after the procedure and want to look decently healed when starting.

 

My Main Question: it seems like many of the problems Dr. Rahal's patients were having occurred around 2-3 years ago. His consultant has suggested that Dr. Rahal has improved his FUE procedure to get consistent >94% yield rates. Does anyone have any input on this?

 

Here are my main concerns:

+ Transections: I have wavy, medium thickness hair

+ Touchups: I don't want to do a touch up procedure after one year. I can't wear a hat to work after I start my job, and I won't be able to take much time off in the beginning.

+ Future Hair Loss: my dad is a 5a (at 60) and looks pretty bad. I anticipate I'll have to do another one of these in 5-10 years. That said, I'm worried about thinning out my donor with multiple FUEs.

+ Friend Had Bad Experience: my friend underwent an FUE with a doctor in Connecticut (NOT Rahal) using a machine (I believe ARTAS) and his hair looks, well, terrible-- after a 12-month follow up, his yield is approximately 75% and you can see the top of his scalp in sunlight or any direct, vertical lighting. The results just turn me off to the idea of FUE.

+Other Consults: I've had an Los Angeles HT doctor tell me that FUT was still the gold standard, and one of Hasson's consultants told me that FUE was not a good procedure and is a scam (though he spoke highly of Dr. Rahal).

 

Any and all insight would be welcome. Thank you!

[nyhairloss]

I can't speak to any of the more technical sides of your questions yet I too am scheduled with Dr. Rahal for an HT (4k) and declined to go FUE as well. I also saw a couple not so good results of his on FUE but naturally it is impossible to make any real correlation there. Yet my overall impression from my research on this board and reading dozens (if not hundreds) of ht blogs is that FUE is not as reliable and does not yield as dense results. FUT seems to return much more reliable results. This could be an erroneous analysis on my part yet given that it is almost 2x as expensive and how bad a bad transplant can be, I opted to go FUT. Dr. Raha's consultants seem to be conservative if anything with their promises so I'd take his consultant at his word, yet still I'm wiling to go the strip scar route.

[dannyde7]

Yeah, I've heard the same thing about FUE and I'm worried about Dr. Rahal's motorized punch with my wavy hair. Would love to hear from some recent Rahal FUErs if they're out there.

[hadenough2014]

I think your concerns about FUE yield are well-founded. There are some great FUE docs, but I believe FUE is very dependent on the doc and his abilities and team, much moreso than FUT. Transecting grafts or adjacent donor follicles is easy to do in the hands of a lesser FUE technician or even doc. For FUE, I would only risk my head to the absolute best out there.

 

Strip leaves a scar, sure, but I ultimately felt in my case that I would only get the yield necessary through FUT on my 4000 needed grafts. For 2000-2500 grafts, I would surely consider FUE, but only with the best. I don't believe FUE session larger than that are worth the risk due to doctor fatigue and the fact those sessions involve too many technicians with varying skills - graft transaction and donor area damage is more likely.

 

I believe the advancements in the next 5-10 years will help me reduce or completely eliminate my strip scar (which is now perfectly fine hidden under my hair and quite thin). Look how far it has come in the past 10 years.

[dannyde7]

I think your concerns about FUE yield are well-founded. There are some great FUE docs, but I believe FUE is very dependent on the doc and his abilities and team, much moreso than FUT. Transecting grafts or adjacent donor follicles is easy to do in the hands of a lesser FUE technician or even doc. For FUE, I would only risk my head to the absolute best out there.

 

Strip leaves a scar, sure, but I ultimately felt in my case that I would only get the yield necessary through FUT on my 4000 needed grafts. For 2000-2500 grafts, I would surely consider FUE, but only with the best. I don't believe FUE session larger than that are worth the risk due to doctor fatigue and the fact those sessions involve too many technicians with varying skills - graft transaction and donor area damage is more likely.

 

I believe the advancements in the next 5-10 years will help me reduce or completely eliminate my strip scar (which is now perfectly fine hidden under my hair and quite thin). Look how far it has come in the past 10 years.

 

Thanks, so for FUE do you mean one should only travel to Europe (Erdogan, Ferudini, Bisanga, etc.) for those? Also, what do you mean by advancements to reduce or eliminate the strip scar? Do you mean micro-pigmentation?

[hadenough2014]

I can't imagine what the advancements may be...but I believe there will be some that are much better than things like micro-pigmentation. The experts will figure out what they will be, because there is a market for it and each year it grows.

 

I think Europe has some great FUE surgeons, Lorenzo being the best IMHO. But there are a number of others too, possibly here in North America. To me, the best means: #1 - recommended by this site, #2 - surgeon does the extractions, incisions, and hairline design, not technicians, #3 - surgeon has many, many FUE examples of success and virtually none of failure both on his own website and here on this site.

 

I only give my personal perspective/opinion on this topic, as I was very split between FUE and FUT before I went forward and I looked into both pretty extensively.

[Noodles123]

There is the issue that Rahal does not do all the FUE extractions himself. That may have changed, but it's up to you if that matters.

 

My very close friend recently had an FUT with Rahal, and let me tell you, his scar after 3 months is a NON issue. It's so narrow. Of course, personal physiology plays a role, but I think Rahal's superlative skills speak for themselves.

[dannyde7]

There is the issue that Rahal does not do all the FUE extractions himself. That may have changed, but it's up to you if that matters.

 

My very close friend recently had an FUT with Rahal, and let me tell you, his scar after 3 months is a NON issue. It's so narrow. Of course, personal physiology plays a role, but I think Rahal's superlative skills speak for themselves.

 

Thanks! Who does the extractions? Mike?

[Sean]

Good luck Danyde. Mike did do FUE extractions during my last visit.

 

Everyone's FUT scar will be different. Talk to other patients on how close each can buzz with it noticeable or not. Once you are cut, you are cut. No one can predict how the scar will be on you. If you are comfortable with that, then FUT would be an option.

 

Have you reviewed Mickey's fue thread? He's got a wealth of info. What punch size can your hair be suited for? What density will the recipient sites be? Are you having any temporal work? Will this be in one day or two days of surgery?

[dannyde7]

Good luck Danyde. Mike did do FUE extractions during my last visit.

 

Everyone's FUT scar will be different. Talk to other patients on how close each can buzz with it noticeable or not. Once you are cut, you are cut. No one can predict how the scar will be on you. If you are comfortable with that, then FUT would be an option.

 

Have you reviewed Mickey's fue thread? He's got a wealth of info. What punch size can your hair be suited for? What density will the recipient sites be? Are you having any temporal work? Will this be in one day or two days of surgery?

 

Thanks, Sean. I've followed your thread closely. Have things gotten better for your FUE?

 

I'm not sure if Mickey's thread is the comprehensive overview of FUE vs. FUT, but if it is, I've seen it. If not, can you link it?

 

I'm looking at high density in the hairline (I think Rahal's consultant said around 60 grafts/cm2) with closed temple angles and then medium density behind that. My forelock is still pretty healthy, but I just hate the angle of my recession on my right side-- basically it looks like I have a lopsided hairline since the point of my forelock falls a few millimeters off center to the left.

 

I'd be willing to spread the grafting over two days, but I haven't been told that's an option yet by Rahal's team. Is this something I should ask for?

 

Thanks!

[Rsilva5]

Hey Danny,

 

I'd say Dr. Rahal's FUE and FUT are both par excellence from what I have seen on the forum and otherwise. I am scheduled with Rahal for an FUT next week. I decided for FUT as I already had one a strip procedure before (with another doctor), hence there was no incentive in getting FUE.

 

If I were to suggest, go for an FUE. I say that because sometimes I feel like buzzing down my hair at the back but scar comes in the way. If you an have option, go scarless and go FUE. Why have a scar when you can actually avoid it. Atleast you will have the option to buzz down completely down the road. Good luck!

[dannyde7]

Hey Danny,

 

I'd say Dr. Rahal's FUE and FUT are both par excellence from what I have seen on the forum and otherwise. I am scheduled with Rahal for an FUT next week. I decided for FUT as I already had one a strip procedure before (with another doctor), hence there was no incentive in getting FUE.

 

If I were to suggest, go for an FUE. I say that because sometimes I feel like buzzing down my hair at the back but scar comes in the way. If you an have option, go scarless and go FUE. Why have a scar when you can actually avoid it. Atleast you will have the option to buzz down completely down the road. Good luck!

 

Thanks! Will you keep us up to date on your results?

[Rsilva5]

Thanks! Will you keep us up to date on your results?

 

Yes, I will keep you guys posted.

[Rawkerboi]

My friend also had an FUT few months back, you can follow his progress, his blog is there on Dr.Rahal website.

Dr. Rahal FUE results are good but FUT is Top notch!

[MusoInOz]

Hey mate!

 

If you're still unsure keep researching the best option for your situation, remeber FUE is limiting if there is a possibility of additional loss down the track, and of course the depth of your pockets. After my fut I was back playing ice hockey after a month, my scar is non existent and can buzz to a #2

[MusoInOz]

Hey mate!

 

If you're still unsure keep researching the best option for your situation, remeber FUE is limiting if there is a possibility of additional loss down the track, and of course the depth of your pockets. After my fut I was back playing ice hockey after a month, my scar is non existent and can buzz to a #2