Four techniques.
One honest recommendation.
Every hair transplant method makes a trade, between scarring, healing time, achievable density and how many grafts can be harvested in a single session. This page puts all four side by side in plain language, so you walk into your consultation already knowing the right questions.
The four procedures we offer in Munich
Three of them are variations on one principle, individual follicular units, no strip removed. The fourth is the traditional strip technique, which still has its place in specific cases.
FUE
Follicular units of one to four hairs are removed individually with hollow punches of 0.8–0.95 mm. No scalpel, no strip of skin, no linear scar.
- Scar
- Dot-shaped
- Presentable
- 7–10 days
Sapphire technique
FUE harvesting combined with lab-grown sapphire blades (Al₂O₃, Mohs 9) that cut V-shaped micro-channels in the recipient area instead of the U-shaped slits steel produces.
- Channel
- 0.25 mm
- Density
- 50–55/cm²
ARTAS® iX
A computer-guided system reads the donor area in real time, selects optimal extraction points and harvests with the same precision from the first graft to the last, without fatigue.
- Precision
- Robotic
- Status
- Center of Excellence
FUT (strip)
A strip of scalp roughly 1–1.5 cm wide and up to 25 cm long is excised and dissected into grafts under the microscope. High yield, but a permanent linear scar.
- Scar
- Linear
- Sutures out
- 10–14 days
Pick a method, see the honest balance
Advantages and limitations, laid out the same way for each technique.
Extracted one by one, nothing cut out
Individual follicular units are punched directly from the genetically resistant donor zone at the back of the head. Because no skin is removed, the extraction sites heal as near-invisible pinpoint micro-wounds rather than a continuous line.
For younger patients whose pattern of loss is still developing, this matters twice over: the donor area stays flexible and can be used again in later sessions without an existing linear scar limiting the result.
- +No visible linear scar, only scattered dot-shaped extraction points
- +No styling restrictions; very short haircuts remain possible
- +Presentable again after 7–10 days; painkillers usually only on day one
- +Minimally invasive: no scalpel, no sutures, low infection risk
- –More labour-intensive and time-consuming than a strip harvest
Why sapphire beats steel at 0.25 mm
Sapphire blades are made of high-purity synthetic corundum. At Mohs hardness 9 they sit directly behind diamond and well above surgical steel (5.5–6.5). Steel dulls microscopically over thousands of incisions; sapphire stays sharp to the last channel.
The V-shaped channel hugs the natural form of the follicle, which reduces dead space, protects micro-circulation and allows grafts to sit at their true 40–45° exit angle, the difference between a hairline that reads as designed and one that reads as done.
- +Incisions of 0.3–0.5 mm: less swelling, minimal crusting
- +Up to 25% faster healing; light everyday activity after 2–3 days
- +50–55 follicular units per cm² instead of 30–40 with steel
- +Follicular damage rate of 1.8% versus 5.6% for conventional steel
- –Requires a surgeon experienced with the blade geometry, the tool alone does not create the result
The same precision at graft 4,000 as at graft one
ARTAS® iX is a computer-guided evolution of manual FUE. The system analyses the donor area in real time, chooses extraction points that preserve its natural appearance, and harvests without the fatigue that affects any human hand over a long session.
Robotic assistance is long established in cardiac, endonasal and transplant surgery. Munich Hair Transplant is designated a Center of Excellence for ARTAS® iX robot-assisted hair transplantation.
- +Consistent graft quality across thousands of extractions
- +Donor area keeps its natural density and appearance
- +No linear scar, no styling restrictions
- +Short recovery thanks to precise, tissue-sparing extraction
- –Not every hair and skin type is equally suited to automated detection
The strip technique, fairly assessed
FUT delivers a large number of grafts in a single sitting and costs less than FUE. The strip is taken from the lower occipital area, where follicles are genetically resistant to hormonal loss, then dissected into follicular units under the microscope.
Trichophytic closuresuturing the wound edges with an overlap so hair grows through the join, reduces how visible the scar becomes. It does not eliminate it. That assessment belongs in the consultation, before the procedure, not on an invoice afterwards.
- +Large graft yield in one session; useful for extensive loss
- +Lower cost; decades of established technique
- +High graft quality through microscopic dissection
- –A linear donor scar is unavoidable and can show with short hair
- –Longer recovery; sutures removed after 10–14 days
- –Tightness, numbness or persistent discomfort are possible
FUE vs. Sapphire vs. ARTAS® iX vs. FUT
The criteria patients actually ask about, answered for all four methods.
Sapphire blade vs. surgical steel
Where the recipient-site incision is concerned, the material of the blade changes measurable outcomes.
Figures reflect published clinical observations (Zhang et al. 2021, Chen et al. 2022, Aslam & Ahmed 2021). They describe general findings and are not a guarantee of individual results.
What we would actually tell you
For most patients an FUE-based technique is the better answer. It avoids the one consequence of FUT that cannot be undone, a permanent linear scar in the donor area, and it leaves your future options open.
Sapphire blades change the recipient side, not the harvest. They allow finer channels, denser placement and a more natural exit angle, which is why they matter most at the hairline and in refill work. The ARTAS® iX changes the harvest side, holding precision steady across thousands of extractions.
FUT is not obsolete. Where a very large number of grafts is needed in one sitting, where budget is decisive, and where you are content to wear the donor area with some length, it remains a reasonable choice, provided you were told about the scar beforehand.
Which method suits you depends on the extent of your loss, the quality of your donor area, the hair length you want to wear and your budget. That belongs in an examination, not in a sales conversation.
Who a hair transplant is suited to
The one prerequisite is a donor area with sufficient density. Dr. med. Sussan Rosenthal assesses your hair structure personally in Munich, and will say so plainly if a transplant is not the right step for you yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between FUE and FUT?
With FUE, individual grafts are extracted directly and no strip of skin is removed. With FUT, a strip of scalp is excised surgically and then divided into grafts. The most visible difference is the scar: FUE leaves small scattered dots, FUT leaves a continuous linear scar in the donor area.
Does FUT really leave a visible scar?
Yes. The strip technique creates a linear scar at the back of the head. Trichophytic closure reduces how noticeable it is but cannot prevent it. It can be covered with longer hair and often becomes visible with a very short cut.
What does the sapphire technique change compared with classic FUE?
The difference is in the recipient-site channels. Sapphire blades create finer, V-shaped incisions with a precision of 0.25 mm compared with 0.8 mm for steel. That means less swelling, faster healing, and grafts that can be placed more densely and at a more natural angle.
What is the ARTAS® iX method?
ARTAS® iX is a robot-assisted form of FUE. The system supports precise graft extraction and does not tire, which keeps quality consistent across a full session of 4,000 grafts or more. It preserves the natural look of the donor area and leaves no linear scar.
Is the procedure painful?
It is performed under local anaesthetic and is largely pain-free. With the very fine sapphire blades tissue trauma is minimised, which also reduces discomfort afterwards. Most FUE patients need painkillers only on the first day.
How many grafts can be transplanted in one session?
Up to 4,000 and more with the ARTAS® iX. The actual number depends on the condition of your donor area and your individual treatment plan, and is agreed during the consultation.
How long does healing take, and when will I see the result?
Light everyday activity is usually possible after 2–3 days with the sapphire technique; crusting typically resolves between day 7 and day 14. Most patients are socially presentable after 7–10 days. The final result becomes visible after 10–12 months.
Can a transplant be combined with other treatments?
Yes. It can be combined with PRP, mesotherapy, Regenera Activa® or polynucleotides to support graft survival and overall hair quality. The right combination is decided case by case.
Which method is right for me?
That depends on the extent of your hair loss, the condition of your donor area, the hair length you want to wear and your personal preference. The decision should follow a medical examination, not a general rule, and not under time pressure.
An honest assessment before you decide
Dr. med. Sussan Rosenthal examines your donor area personally and tells you which method fits your findings, including when the answer is “not yet”. Theatinerstrasse 31, Munich.
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