Posts

, , , , , , , , , ,

Robotic Follicular Unit Graft Selection In North Texas by Dr. Mark A. Bishara

Surrounding Areas

Dr. Mak A Bishara, M.D. P.A. performs robotic follicular unit graft selection for residents living around Mansfield, Southlake, Dallas, Arlington, Fort Worth, and surrounding the DFW area in North Texas.

Importance of Robotic Follicular Unit Graft Selection

Robotic follicular unit graft selection is important during hair restoration surgery because the surgeon can select 2 hair, 3 hair or 4 hair follicular unit grafts and avoid taking single hair grafts when they’re not needed. This supplies more total hair transplanted during the transplant procedure than a typical nonselective process will provide.

How does this work?

The robot sees different hairs that are grouped together with two or more hairs.   Using the optical guidance system with two separate cameras you can distinguish these from single hair grafts.  Dr. Mark A. Bishara, M.D. P.A. programs the robot to only select out thick, more robust follicular units which provides the patient with more hair and a thicker result with minimal soft tissue wounding in the donor area.  This advancement is by far the most significant benefit towards the economy of motion during the procedure.
 

Please call 817-473-2120 or email us at appointments@markbisharamd.com today!

/by
, , , , , , , ,

What is a Robotic Hair Transplant?

What is a Robotic Hair Transplant?

A robotic hair transplant is a type of hair restoration procedure where donor hair is removed directly from the back and sides of the scalp using robotic control. The specific type of hair transplant where robotic technology is used is called follicular unit extraction (FUE). In FUE, a small, round instrument, or punch, is use to separate individual follicular units (naturally occurring groups of 1-4 hairs) from the surrounding tissue, so that they can be extracted and then implanted into the balding area. This process is very tedious and exacting and when done manually often leads to significant injury to the follicles.
Robotic surgery allows this procedure to be done in a more precise and consistent way, ultimately maximizing the growth of the grafts. In a robotic hair transplant, follicular units are extracted one at a time by the image-guided, computer-driven system called ARTAS, a technology developed by the company Restoration Robotics. At The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, all Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedures employ the speed and precision of the robotic system.

How Does the ARTAS Robotic Procedure Differ from Other Hair Transplant Procedures?

There are two basic types of hair transplant procedures, Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT or strip surgery) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). In FUT, donor hair is harvested by removing a long thin strip from the back of the scalp. Individual follicular units are then obtained from this strip using stereo-microscopic dissection. In FUE, individual follicular units are harvested directly from the donor area using a sharp, round cutting instrument. The ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant system performs the follicular unit isolation step of an FUE procedure and can also create recipient sites according to specifications determined by the hair restoration surgeon. In performing each of these steps, the robot uses its image-guided technology to locate the next target and position the cutting instrument, and it does so with precision and speed that cannot be accomplished using manual FUE techniques or instruments.
Hair restoration information is available in our office. Please contact us at 817.473.2120 to schedule an appointment.  You can also visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com.

/by
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Robotic Hair Transplants with The ARTAS System

The ARTAS Robotic System

ARTAS Robot's Imaging System
The ARTAS Robot’s Imaging System

The ARTAS FUE robot is an image-guided system composed of a robotic arm, dual-needle punch mechanism, video imaging system, and a user interface. Its extraction technique consists of a double-punch arrangement with an inner (sharp) punch and outer (dull) punch. The inner punch has cutting capabilities to score the upper most part of the skin and the outer punch has a blunt edge used for dissection of the follicular units from the surrounding tissue that minimizes injury to the grafts. The image-guided system allows this step to be accomplished with great precision. The patient lies on a specially designed operating table that allows access of the robotic arm to the donor area of the scalp.
The ARTAS System is an interactive, computer assisted equipment employing image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
There are two common ways to treat balding including strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction (FUE).  Strip harvesting is the most commonly used technique right now, and it is an efficient means of harvesting large quantities of follicles.
FUE offers less discomfort and a faster return to normal daily activities than traditional, more invasive methods of hair restoration. Performed in Dr. Bishara’s office, FUE with ARTAS moves healthy, functioning follicles to the areas of the patient’s scalp most impacted by baldness for more dramatic results. The implanted hairs develop their own blood supply, begin to grow and new hairs are seen a few months after the procedure has taken place. New hair continues to grow over the course of a full year, making the change in the patient’s appearance gradually noticeable to others. Healing time is short, and there is no resultant linear scar as happens with other methods of hair restoration. The only evidence is tiny, white scars left in the donor area, which are the same as those produced by manual FUE.

Benefits of ARTAS System
Robotic technology is used in numerous surgical and diagnostic procedures to improve the efficacy of treatments.  Restoration Robotics has incorporated robotic technology into FUE resulting in the ARTAS system which is the first and only FDA-cleared technology that allows the physician to control the image-guided robot.  I am able to make minor adjustments to dissection depths and angles during the extraction process ensuring my patients receive optimal results.
Before and After Pictures:

Please view more before and after pictures on our website at markbisharamd.com/robotic-hair-transplants.php#artas

/by
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What is a Robotic Hair Transplant?

Technology Makes a Difference Click Here to download the brochure

WHAT IS A ROBOTIC HAIR TRANSPLANT?

Robotic hair transplant surgery is a logical advance in the technology of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).  In Robotic FUE hair transplant procedures, follicular units are isolated using the ARTAS robotic system. The ARTAS system is a computerized, image-guided robot that automates the labor intensive process of extracting grafts. Its advantage over other FUE techniques is due to its precision and consistency in extracting grafts. All FUE procedures at The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa are performed using the ARTAS robot.
The ARTAS® Robotic System is the first and only robotic hair transplant system. Using image-guided robotics, the physician-assisted ARTAS Robotic System precisely dissects follicular units, thousands of times in a single session.
ARTAS is the very latest technology in hair restoration.  Dr. Bishara is using the ARTAS System in his Mansfield and Southlake offices. This interactive, computer assisted equipment employs image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).
Hair Transplants | Dallas TX | Mansfield TXThis physician-controlled, state-of-the-art system enables the harvesting of hair follicles during hair restoration procedures. It offers numerous beneficial features, including an image-guided robotic arm, special imaging technologies, small dermal punches and a computer interface. The ARTAS System is capable of identifying and harvesting individual follicular units to implement the FUE technique. The device, guided by cameras and 3-D imaging software, can perform the dissection of hair follicles individually at a rate of up to 1,000 per hour.
The advantages of FUE over traditional hair transplant methods are having no linear scar in the donor area and having no post-operative limitations on physical activity. Robotic technology enables FUE to be performed with unparalleled precision.
Please visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com for more information on robotic hair transplants or call our office at (817) 473-2120.
 

/by
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Am I a Candidate for a Robotic Hair Transplant

Most people are a candidate for hair transplant surgery. However, in order to properly determine your candidacy for the procedure, an ARTAS physician will need to consider various factors, including age, family history of hair loss, current and projected future hair loss pattern (area of baldness), donor characteristics (laxity and density), and whether or not the goals of the patient can realistically be met.
The best way to find out if you are a candidate for a hair restoration procedure is to go to a surgeon that specializes in hair restoration. The answer will depend on the cause of your hair loss, your age, the stability of your donor supply, how extensive you hair loss is, your expectations and a number of other important factors that will be taken into account.
It’s important to have realistic expectations before undergoing a hair transplant procedure.
Remember there is a finite amount of donor hair that can be moved to the thinning areas of the scalp. If that hair isn’t used in an efficient manner the outcome of the procedure might not meet your expectations.  Every patient is examined on a case-by-case basis, but here are some general types of patients that are great candidates for hair transplants:

Technology Makes a Difference Click Here to download the brochure


The best candidates for hair restoration surgery are:

  • Men who have been losing their hair due to Male Pattern Baldness for more than five years or who have progressed to a Norwood class 3 or above.
  • Men with realistic expectations and who understand that their hair loss might continue to progress even if they are taking prescription medication to stop the progression.
  • Men who have been balding for many years and who’s pattern has stabilized and are interested in just adding some hair to provide a more youthful appearance.
  • Men and women who have lost hair due to trauma or burns
  • Men and women who have lost hair due to other cosmetic procedures such as face-lifts.

Some women are candidates for hair restoration surgery. They are:

  • Women who have suffered hair loss due to mechanical or traction alopecia (non-hormonal).
  • Women who have had previous cosmetic or plastic surgery and are concerned about hair loss around the incision sites.
  • Women who have a distinct pattern of baldness, similar to that of male pattern baldness. This includes hairline recession, vertex thinning (on the crown or top of the scalp), and a donor area that is not affected by androgenetic alopecia.
  • Women who suffer hair loss due to trauma, including burn victims, scarring from accidents, and chemical burns.
  • Women with alopecia marginalis, a condition that looks very similar to traction alopecia.

Hair Restoration is available for many areas, not just the head, although that is the most common place.  We also do hair restoration for eyelashes, eyebrows and beards.
Please visit the website of Dr. Bishara, who specializes in Hair Restoration, Robotic Hair Transplants and Plastic Surgery at www.MarkBisharaMD.com or call our office at (817) 473-2120.

/by