The So-Called ‘Strip Method’ of Hair Transplant
It is a fact of life for many people that as we get older we have a natural tendency to begin to lose our hair. This can even affect men in their early twenties, and in turn this affects confidence which can spill over into our everyday life. We feel unhappy at work and unhappy when out and about. In severe cases it has been known to cause some men to become almost housebound. Hair loss can also affect women, but it is largely men who suffer.
Some men may just go out and buy a wig, but a far better and more realistic effect is achieved with a hair transplant. One of the best methods for Bay Area residents is the strip method of hair transplant. This is also known as the “Follicular Unit Transplantation Method.”
A Minor Surgery
This is a minor surgery involving removing a strip of hair from the back of the head. The hair grows in follicles of one to four hairs, so the strip of hair that has been removed is divided into 
follicular units and each follicular unit is transplanted separately to the recipient site. This method can enable the grafting of several thousand follicular units in one session at the doctor’s office which gives an improved aesthetic appearance.
At Silicon Valley Hair Institute we meet up with prospective patients in order to assess their needs and also to determine the right method for each individual. The strip method of hair transplant is one procedure, but we may recommend follicular unit extraction, or the ARTAS robotic hair transplantation method which was developed by our doctor, Dr Miguel Canales, and is now used internationally. The procedure that we recommend will depend on the individual circumstances of the patient.
The Hair Transplantation Procedure
The procedure used in the strip method of hair transplant involves removing a strip of hair from the back of the head, and the size of the strip is determined by the doctor so that he has enough follicular units to fill the recipient area. Hair immediately above the donor area is lifted up and taped into place. The strip is then removed and the donor site stitched up. The hair above the donor site is then released and it will usually cover the donor site so that it is not visible.
The strip is then separated into follicular units and transplanted into the recipient site by hand using jewelers’ forceps.
Dr Canales is happy to offer a completely free consult to Bay Area residents who are considering an FUT transplant in order to assess your suitability and to answer all your questions. You can call for an appointment on (650) 638-1226 or click on the “contact” link at the top of the page. Our office is in Foster City, California, and thus convenient to cities like San Mateo or Palo Alto.
