Donor Tightness

Donor tightness refers to the laxity or looseness of the scalp tissue in the donor area—typically the back and sides of the head where hair follicles are harvested for transplantation. It is a physical property of the skin that affects how easily tissue can be mobilized, how much strip can be safely removed for a strip (FUT) procedure, and how readily the scalp will close without undue tension.

Lower scalp laxity (a tight donor) can limit the width of a strip harvest, increase tension on a closure and the risk of a wider scar, and may make punch-based extraction more technically challenging. Clinicians assess donor tightness with simple physical tests and measurements to guide whether strip, FUE, or alternative harvesting strategies (including use of body hair or staged procedures) are most appropriate for achieving safe and effective results.