Combining FUE with Strip/FUT in one procedure on a virgin scalp the same basic understanding needs to apply to the use of FUE but adding in the variable of the scarring or changes in the FUE safe zone. This is one of the benefits of FUE because it opens up a wider zone to extract grafts compared to Strip. What % is available to extract is going to depend on a few factors, largely the length/size and positioning of the strip, as well as hair characteristics, but not to put a % per se as it could lead to mis-interpretation. Be it caution, a conservative nature, educated knowledge, we would personally not max out the FUE potential that said in a single procedure or continue the procedure for more than 2 consecutive days; just our thoughts, it may be very possible obviously and not saying it is not, we’d rather air on the side of caution rather than going for broke. One point though, more cosmetic than anything else, any one thinking of combing the two techniques this will probably mean having the donor hair shaved to all but zero. FUE punch healing is relatively fast, but this would expose the strip scar suture which would be very obvious until your hair regrows over and around… just something for those to consider in the post op healing and getting back to work etc.
I’m busy putting the pictures together as promised, hopefully it will help to explain some aspects of FUE that may be obvious to some but less to others; what is also possible but this will take time to manage is mapping out an actual donor area, ideally more than one with different hair characters, then simulating the number of punches per cm2 and over a larger area.
To go back to how FUE is performed on a non virgin scalp obviously there will be an impact, be it a linear scar from previous strips or FUE punches, either way previous scarring or changes to the donor will play a part in the potential numbers. FUE will open a wider donor area, so those with previous strips and poor laxity for more strips can still tap into the FUE donor. Repair cases can find a new source of scalp donor to fall back on and give hope to improving their situation, where once they may have given up hope, or possibly ending up with more strip scars taken out of the conventional area. So FUE used in this way has helped increase the harvest potential available and can complement Strip without one being seen as better or worse, but just different.
Either a repair or non repair what FUE can give is the possibility if hair loss progresses to a high NW scale, and for those maybe with poor laxity where strip, or slightly lower density making large strip numbers limited then being able to harvest beyond the strip safe zone can increase graft numbers and achieve more coverage long term.