What Is FUT Strip Harvesting?

FUT strip harvesting is the donor step of a strip hair transplant. A single band of scalp, usually one to one and a half centimetres wide, is taken from the permanent zone at the back of the head. The length and width are set from your donor density and scalp stretch, so the strip gives the grafts you need and still closes without tension.

The strip is cut in one piece, parallel to the direction the hair grows. This helps keep the follicle roots whole. The team then slices it into thin slivers and separates each follicular unit under magnification. Grafts stay chilled and moist in a storage solution until Dr. Aneel places them. Careful strip work is one of the skills that set the best hair transplant clinic in Lahore apart, because a poorly cut strip wastes grafts.

FUT Strip Harvesting Candidates

• Need for many grafts: patients whose plan calls for a larger graft number in one sitting.
• Good donor density: a thick band of hair at the back of the scalp to take the strip from.
• Healthy donor skin: no active infection, scarring disease or recent scalp surgery in the donor zone.
• Hair worn longer at the back: enough length to cover the healed line.
• Prefers no head shave: only the strip itself is trimmed, so the rest of your hair stays as it is.

FUT Strip Harvesting Procedure

1. Donor measurement: Dr. Aneel checks density and laxity to set the strip length and width.
2. Trimming and marking: only the narrow strip area is trimmed and outlined.
3. Numbing: local anaesthesia is given to the donor band and recipient area.
4. Single-strip removal: Dr. Aneel lifts the strip in one piece, angled with the hair to protect the roots.
5. Same-day closure: the donor wound is closed with a trichophytic technique.
6. Slivering and dissection: the strip is cut into follicular units, kept cool and moist, and prepared for placement.

FUT Strip Harvesting Recovery Timeline

Time After Surgery	Donor and Recipient Healing
Day 1 – 2	The donor line feels tight and a little numb. A light dressing may be worn overnight.
Day 3 – 7	Tightness eases. Gentle washing of both areas as shown at discharge.
Day 10 – 14	Stitches come out at the clinic. Most normal activities can resume.
Week 3 – 6	Numbness around the donor line fades. Transplanted hairs shed.
Month 3 – 6	Recipient growth begins. The donor line turns paler and flatter.
Month 9 – 12	The donor line is settled and covered by the hair above it.

Our post-op instructions explain donor-line care in detail.

FUT Strip Harvesting vs FUE Extraction

	FUT Strip Harvesting	FUE Extraction
How grafts are taken	One strip, split into units	Each unit punched separately
Root visibility	Roots seen during dissection	Roots taken partly blind
Area trimmed	Narrow strip only	Larger donor area
Donor mark	One thin line	Many small dots
Price per graft (2026)	PKR 50 – 80	PKR 70 – 120

Why Choose Aneels for FUT Strip Harvesting in Lahore

• Strip sized to your scalp: length and width are set from measured density and stretch, not a fixed template.
• Surgeon removes every strip: Dr. Aneel takes the strip and makes every recipient incision himself.
• Trichophytic closure as standard: Dr. Aneel has used this closure since the start of his career.
• Senior Lahore surgeon: one of the most senior hair restoration surgeons in Lahore reviews every FUT Strip Harvesting plan in person.
• Professional memberships: ISHRS membership and life membership of Pakistan’s hair restoration surgeons’ association keep our FUT Strip Harvesting work current.

FUT Strip Harvesting FAQs

What does FUT strip harvesting cost in Lahore?

It is included in the FUT fee of PKR 50 to 80 per graft (2026 estimate). A 1,500-graft strip case is about PKR 75,000 to PKR 120,000. Call 0341-7555512 for your final price.

How big is the donor strip?

It is usually one to one and a half centimetres wide. The length depends on how many grafts you need and how much your scalp can stretch.

Do I need to shave my head?

No. Only the strip area is trimmed. The hair above it falls over the area on the same day.

Can a second strip be taken later?

Often yes, if scalp laxity allows. The old line is usually removed within the new strip, so you still end up with one line.

Is the donor area numb afterwards?

Some numbness around the line is common for a few weeks. It usually fades as the small nerves recover.