FUT Hair Transplant in Turkey: Strip Method, Scar and Recovery
Last updated: November 7, 2026 · By the Editorial Team · Editorial guide, not sponsored
Short answer: FUT, or strip harvesting, removes a thin strip of scalp from the back of the head and divides it into follicular unit grafts under magnification. It leaves a linear scar that is usually hidden by hair at least 2–3 cm long, and it does not require shaving the head. ISHRS members used strip harvesting in 12.5% of procedures in men and 30.0% in women in 2024; the rest were mostly FUE.
This guide explains how FUT works, how it compares with FUE and what recovery involves, using published guidance from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), the NHS, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and peer-reviewed studies. It is general information, not a review of any clinic.
How FUT works
According to the ISHRS, the surgeon removes a strip of scalp, typically 0.5–1.5 cm wide and 5–30 cm long, from the back of the head and closes the wound with stitches or staples. The strip is then dissected into follicular unit grafts, which the ISHRS FUT guidelines say is done under about 10× magnification.
A trichophytic closure trims about a millimeter of tissue from one edge of the wound so that hair can grow through the scar. The grafts are placed in the recipient area in the same way as with other methods.
FUT vs FUE
| FUT (strip) | FUE | |
|---|---|---|
| How grafts are taken | A strip of scalp is removed and divided into grafts | Follicular units are removed one by one |
| Scar | One linear scar at the back of the head | Many small dot scars, which are typically easily concealed |
| Shaving | The rest of the hair can stay long | The donor area is often shaved, though unshaven options exist |
| Pain | More discomfort in some cases; in one study it tended to settle by day 3 | Less pain on average in the same study |
| Recovery | Stitches or staples removed after about 8–14 days | Faster recovery, according to the ISHRS |
| Share of procedures (ISHRS, 2024) | 12.5% in men, 30.0% in women | 85.4% in men, 68.2% in women |
Sources: ISHRS FUT and FUE guides; Gupta, Love and Harris, Dermatologic Surgery, 2020; Kim, Na and Park, Archives of Plastic Surgery, 2019; ISHRS 2025 Practice Census.
A 2020 review in Dermatologic Surgery concluded that FUE and FUT are equally effective at producing high-quality grafts. The main differences are the type of scar and which patients each method suits. The ISHRS FUT guidelines add that over a lifetime FUT can yield more grafts than FUE for most patients.
Who is FUT suited to?
The ISHRS describes these people as good candidates for FUT:
- People who always wear their hair longer than an inch and do not want to shave
- Women who will not wear their hair very short; a 2025 review notes that many women prefer FUT for this reason
- People with very advanced hair loss (Norwood 6–7) who need many grafts
- Older patients, since the ISHRS notes that FUT scars tend to heal better with each decade of life
The ISHRS FUT guidelines add that good scalp elasticity helps, and that people with thinning across the donor area may not be good candidates. A doctor needs to examine your scalp to decide.
Recovery after FUT
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| First days | The scalp feels tight, achy and swollen (NHS). Pain after FUT tended to settle by day 3 in a 2019 study. |
| First week | Some pain or discomfort is expected; the scalp may feel slightly tense (ISHRS FUT guidelines). |
| About days 8–14 | Stitches or staples are removed: days 8–10 in the ISHRS guidelines, a week to 10 days per the ASPS, 10–14 days per the NHS. |
| Weeks to months | The transplanted hairs shed and regrow on the same timeline as any hair transplant. |
Temporary numbness or altered feeling above the scar is possible, although the ISHRS guidelines describe it as rare. For the growth timeline and aftercare, see our hair transplant recovery guide.
The FUT scar
FUT always leaves a linear scar. The ISHRS FUT guidelines advise keeping hair at least 2–3 cm long for life to cover it, and the NHS says the scar should not be visible unless you have very short hair. In one small study of 10 patients, scars averaged about 1.6 mm wide. The ISHRS guidelines note that closing the wound under too much tension can widen the scar.
Possible side effects and complications
Published studies describe these donor-area problems after strip harvesting:
- A wider-than-expected scar
- Numbness or altered feeling (paresthesia) around the scar
- Increased sensitivity of the scalp (hyperesthesia), reported in 3.4% of 552 patients in a 2011 study
- Rarely, the wound reopening (dehiscence)
- Hair shedding or poor healing if the strip is too wide for the scalp
In a 2014 study of 73 men, most of whom had FUT, a wide donor scar was reported in about 15% and numbness or paresthesia in about 11%, with one case of the wound reopening. These figures come from single studies and may not reflect every practice. Ask your surgeon how they plan the strip and the closure.
FUT in Turkey
FUT is used less often than FUE worldwide, so ask each clinic directly whether it offers FUT and who performs the strip removal and closure. Our price set covers FUE, Sapphire FUE and DHI packages only, so ask for a written quote that states the technique, the number of grafts and what the package includes.
Because stitches or staples are removed after about 8–14 days, plan who will remove them if you fly home before then. Our guides on how to choose a clinic and hair transplant safety in Turkey explain what else to check.
Questions to ask about FUT
- Do you recommend FUT or FUE for me, and why?
- How wide and how long will the strip be?
- Will you use a trichophytic closure?
- Will the wound be closed with stitches or staples, and who will remove them?
- How long should my hair be to cover the scar?
- How many grafts do you expect from the strip?
Frequently asked questions
What is an FUT hair transplant?
FUT, or follicular unit transplantation, removes a thin strip of scalp from the back of the head. The strip is divided into follicular unit grafts under magnification, and the grafts are placed in the thinning area. It is also called strip harvesting or FUSS.
Does FUT leave a scar?
Yes. FUT leaves a linear scar where the strip was removed. ISHRS guidelines advise keeping hair at least 2–3 cm long to cover it, and the NHS says the scar should not be visible unless you have very short hair.
Is FUT more painful than FUE?
It can be. In a 2019 study of 241 patients, FUE caused significantly less pain than FUT, and pain after FUT tended to settle by day 3. The ISHRS also notes more discomfort with FUT in some cases.
Do I need to shave my head for FUT?
No. Because grafts come from a single strip, the rest of your hair can stay long. The ISHRS describes someone who wears their hair longer than an inch and does not want to shave as a good candidate for FUT.
When are the stitches removed after FUT?
Usually after about 8–14 days. ISHRS guidelines give days 8–10, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says a week to 10 days, and the NHS says non-dissolvable stitches come out after 10–14 days.
Is FUT available in Turkey?
Ask each clinic directly. FUT is used less often than FUE worldwide: strip harvesting was used in 12.5% of procedures in men and 30.0% in women by ISHRS members in 2024. Our price set covers FUE, Sapphire FUE and DHI packages, so ask for a written quote for FUT.
Related guides
Compare FUT with our FUE, DHI and Sapphire FUE guides, read how many grafts you need, see our female hair transplant guide or check prices in our cost guide.
Sources
- ISHRS: FUT hair transplant guide
- ISHRS FUT Guidelines Task Force: clinical practice guidelines for FUT, Hair Transplant Forum International (2024)
- ISHRS: FUE hair transplant guide
- Gupta AK, Love RP, Harris JA. A comparison of follicular unit transplantation and follicular unit excision methods. Dermatologic Surgery (2020)
- Kim YS, Na YC, Park JH. Archives of Plastic Surgery: pain after FUT and FUE (2019)
- NHS: hair transplant (reviewed September 2023)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons: hair transplant recovery
- Ahmad M. Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: donor scar width after strip harvesting (2017)
- Loganathan E, et al. International Journal of Trichology: complications of hair restoration surgery (2014)
- Wesley CK, et al. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology: postoperative hyperesthesia in hair restoration (2011)
- Khanna M. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery: follicular unit strip surgery (2021)
- Queen D, Avram MR. Hair transplantation in women. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2025)
- ISHRS: 2025 Practice Census Results (2025)
This guide is for information only and is not medical advice. Always follow the advice of the doctor who examines you. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will check it.