Procedure Time
2 Hrs
Recovery Time
1 week
FUT Hair Transplant
Starts at
Thinning at the crown, a receding hairline, or a widening part can change how a person looks and feels about their appearance. Topical products can slow thinning in some cases, but they do not replace hair follicles that are already gone.
Northwest Face & Body offers FUT hair transplant in Bellevue and Kirkland for patients who are looking for a permanent hair restoration using their own donor hair. Board-certified surgeons with more than 20 years of experience plan each procedure around the patient’s hair loss pattern, donor supply, and goals.
Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), also known as strip hair transplantation, is a surgical hair restoration technique that involves removing a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the donor area, usually the back or sides of the scalp. The strip is then divided into individual follicular units containing one to four hair follicles under a microscope. These grafts are carefully implanted into areas affected by hair thinning or baldness.
During the FUT Hair Transplant in Kirkland, the surgeon makes a linear incision to remove the donor strip and closes the area with sutures or staples. The extracted follicular units are then prepared and placed into tiny incisions in the recipient area, following the natural direction, angle, and distribution of existing hair.
FUT hair transplant in Bellevue works for both men and women who have lost hair but still have healthy hair at the back and sides of the scalp. The surgeon checks hair density, scalp laxity, and the stability of the hair loss during the consultation.
FUT can treat:
Donor supply sets the limit on how much coverage is possible. A patient needs enough healthy donor hair and enough scalp flexibility for the strip to be removed and closed. Patients with active scalp conditions or rapidly progressing hair loss may need treatment or monitoring before surgery.
Grafts are placed in their natural groupings, with single-hair grafts along the hairline and larger grafts behind it. Patients who choose FUT hair transplant in Bellevue get a hairline that blends with existing hair instead of looking planted.
Because a full strip is removed, FUT can yield a large number of grafts in a single surgery. This helps patients with extensive thinning reach their density goal in fewer sessions.
Transplanted hair comes from donor areas that resist hair loss, so it is meant to last. The hair can be cut, styled, and colored like natural hair.
FUT hair transplant is an Advanced Hair Transplant in Kirkland and Bellevue, in which the surgeon follows a series of steps to harvest hair follicles from the donor area and transplant them into areas affected by hair loss. The procedure typically involves the following stages:
The surgeon examines the scalp, measures donor density, and reviews medical history and hair loss patterns. The patient receives an estimated graft count, a hairline design, and a written quote.
After the scalp is numbed with local anesthesia, the surgeon removes a thin strip of hair-bearing skin from the back of the scalp. The area is closed with fine sutures, and the surrounding hair is left long enough to cover it.
The strip is divided into individual follicular units under magnification. The surgeon creates tiny recipient sites in the thinning area and places each graft at an angle and direction that matches the existing hair.
Most follicular Unit Transplantation In Bellevue procedures take between four and eight hours, depending on the number of grafts. Patients go home the same day.
FUT and FUE differ in how donor hair is extracted, the type of scarring they leave, and the number of grafts harvested per session. The table below highlights their key differences.
| Comparison | FUT | FUE |
| Donor Collection | A thin strip of scalp is removed and divided into grafts | Individual follicular units are removed one by one with a small punch |
| Scarring | One thin linear scar | Small, scattered dot scars |
| Grafts per Session | Higher yield in a single session | Often lower per session |
| Donor Area | Closed with sutures | Heals without sutures |
| Hairstyle Limits | Hair must be long enough to cover the scar | Better suited to very short hairstyles |
| Best For | Patients needing a large number of grafts | Patients who prefer no linear scar |
The right technique depends on hair loss, donor hair availability, and hairstyle preferences. A surgeon can recommend the most suitable approach after examining the scalp.
Most patients after getting a FUT hair transplant in Bellevue and Kirkland return to desk work within about a week. Small scabs form around the transplanted grafts and typically clear within 10 to 14 days. Sutures in the donor area are generally removed around this time. Mild soreness and tightness at the donor site are also common during the first few days.
Donor area care generally includes:
Transplanted hairs typically shed within the first month, which is a normal part of the recovery process. New hair growth generally begins around three to four months after surgery.
After getting a Follicular Unit Transplantation in Kirkland, hair growth builds gradually. Visible improvement often begins around six months, and the full result usually appears at 12 to 18 months as the new hair thickens and matures.
Results are permanent for the transplanted hair, since it comes from donor areas that resist hair loss. Existing non-transplanted hair can still thin over time, so some patients add medical therapy or a second session later. Because the grafts are placed in natural groupings and matched to the direction of the existing hair, the result looks like the patient’s own hair.
The FUT hair transplant cost at Northwest Face & Body starts at $4.50 per graft. The total depends on how many grafts are needed, so a larger session costs more than a smaller one. It is always recommended to get a consultation with the surgeon, who would assess the scalp and provide an estimated graft count needed to cover the baldness. After that, a patient receives a final quote based on the grafts needed.
Several factors affect the final price:
Hair transplants are a cosmetic procedure, so health insurance does not usually cover them. Northwest Face & Body offers financing options through third-party lenders, and the team can explain monthly payment plans during the consultation.
Hair transplant results depend on graft planning, hairline design, and careful placement. Northwest Face & Body provides advanced hair transplant in Kirkland and Bellevue with a focus on natural density and individualized surgical planning.
The surgical team includes board-certified surgeons with more than 20 years of experience and over 20,000 surgeries performed.
Graft count, hairline shape, and density targets are set from the patient’s donor supply and goals.
Single-hair grafts are placed at the front and larger grafts behind them, so the hairline blends with existing hair.
Located at Carillon Point in Kirkland, the clinic serves patients from Bellevue, Redmond, and surrounding areas in Washington.
The clinic provides an accredited setting for surgical care, with attention to facility safety and sanitation.
Patients receive guidance with treatment planning, financing information, surgical preparation, and post-operative care.
Patients considering a hair transplant can meet with the surgeons to review hair loss, check donor supply, and get a written quote. Northwest Face & Body offers some of the best board-certified plastic surgeons performing FUT Hair Transplant in Bellevue and Kirkland with more than 20 years of experience in the industry.
Call the clinic at (425) 576-1700 or request a consultation online to book a visit.
FUT at Northwest Face & Body starts at $4.50 per graft. The total depends on the number of grafts, and a written quote is provided after the consultation.
The scalp is numbed with local anesthesia, so patients feel pressure but not sharp pain during surgery. Soreness at the donor area is common for a few days and is managed with medication as directed by the surgeon.
Yes. FUT leaves a thin linear scar at the back of the scalp. It usually heals into a fine line, and surrounding hair covers it. Very short haircuts can make it visible.
It can, as long as enough donor hair is available. Patients with large bald areas may reach good coverage but not full density, and the surgeon may suggest more than one session.
The number depends on the size of the thinning area, the density goal, and donor supply. Sessions range from about 1,000 grafts to several thousand, and the surgeon gives an estimate at the consultation.
Yes, but only temporarily. Transplanted hairs usually shed within the first month and then regrow. Once regrown, they are permanent, though native hair around them can keep thinning.
Neither is better for everyone. FUT suits patients who need a large number of grafts and wear their hair long enough to cover a scar. FUE suits patients who prefer short hairstyles or want to avoid a linear scar.
Yes. Many patients use medicines, such as minoxidil or finasteride, to protect existing hair. Others add a follow-up session later. The surgeon decides which combination fits the patient’s pattern of hair loss.