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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

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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.
 

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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.

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An Article on The Future of Hair Transplantation

In an article in the Prime Dermatology journal, authored by Dr. Chang Jun Huhen, titled “Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Hair Transplantation”, Dr. Huh reviews the evolution of hair restoration surgical options and contrasts that to technological advancements and unique benefits offered by the ARTAS Robotic Procedure.


Over the past 10 years, robotic procedures have enhanced surgical care that doctors give their patients.  Robotic systems help surgeons improve the outcome for patients and help reduce manual and repetitive movements, which ensures more accuracy and precision.  The use of robots has paved the future for surgeries and will help patients have better experiences. The advantages of minimally robotic procedures appeals to doctors and patients, because of decreased pain and increased recovery time.
Restoration Robotics was founded by physicians and engineers to help develop a solution for hair restoration patients.  Robotic technology plays a role in Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) because it gives patients consistent and safe results, with no visible scarring or long recovery time.  The ARTAS Robotic System enables surgeons to give their patients natural-looking outcomes with fast recovery time.
In the past, hair restoration involved Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), where a strip of scalp is surgically removed and individual hair grafts are generated by manual dissection.  This has been common practice FUT method since the early 90’s.  Soon after, manual FUE started, by using small dermal punches to remove single hair grafts directly from donor sites and implant them in the balding scalp area.  This was the beginning of a less invasive technique with faster healing time.
The ARTAS Robotic System is a FDA approved, physician controlled, interactive computer-assisted system that enables harvesting of hair follicles during hair restoration.  It is the first and only technology that allows physician-controlled, image-guided, robotic assisted FUE.  The robot is programmed to be able to do with great precision what physicians can do only with extensive experience.  The robot can harvest follicular units in a random pattern, or as a percentage of the total number of follicular units in a designated area.  The physician can make changes to dissection depths and angles during the process.  Because the robot is making the repetitive actions, it makes the process go much faster.
Benefits of ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplants:

  • Robotically precise and consistent
  • Reduced treatment time
  • Decreased discomfort
  • Faster recovery time
  • No linear scar
  • Undetectable donor area

The robotic system dissect grafts accurately and consistently, thousands of times with acceptably low transection rates of between 4.9%-8%.  The ARTAS system will also soon be able to use sophisticated 3D patient modeling and design to help create recipient sites at the rate of 2,000 per hour.  The addition of the ARTAS system attracts many patients that would be hesitant to try traditional transplant procedure, and allows physicians to take hair restoration to the next level and produce high patient satisfaction.
Please see the attached article for a more in-depth view of the ARTAS System.

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HISTORY OF HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY

Hair transplant surgery has come a long way since it was first introduced in the 1950s. Back then, Dr. Norman Orentreich started testing a theory that hairs located at the sides and back of the head were genetically “programmed” to resist balding and that when relocated to balding areas, these “donor hairs” would retain this characteristic. It was an idea that was, quite literally, ahead of its time because while the theory was sound, the available surgical techniques were too crude to produce consistently natural-looking results.

The Bad Old Days of Hair Transplantation
In the 1960s and 1970s, hair transplants consisted of removing clumps of donor hairs with a round punch and then transplanting these plugs of hair into regularly spaced rows. Sometimes, if the patient had enough donor hair and dutifully completed all the sessions of hair transplant surgery, a doctor might be able to achieve good coverage, albeit with a very solid-looking hairline and limited ways the patient could style his hair. Too often, however, the patient would run out of donor hair before a good result could be achieved and the result would be the dreaded “doll’s head” look with obvious, evenly spaced plugs of hair. For an entire generation, the words “hair transplant” became virtually synonymous with “hair plugs” and many people, quite understandably, preferred to live with their hair loss than get an obvious-looking hair transplant.
When It Got Better
In the 1980s, hair transplant technique took a giant leap forward with the introduction of smaller grafts. Instead of large plugs of hair, surgeons would excise a strip of hair from a balding-resistant patch and section it into two types of grafts, mini grafts (4-8) hairs and micro grafts (units of 1, 2, and 3 hairs). The mini grafts were placed where fullness was desired and the micro grafts were places along the hairline for a more natural look. More grafts could be transplanted in each session than when surgeons used the “punch” technique and the results were definitely better looking.
When It Got Great
In the 1990s, we finally achieved a truly natural-looking hair transplant method called Follicular Unit Transplantation or Follicular Unit Grafting (FUG) that mimics the way hair naturally grows. The introduction of a new and powerful microscope, called the binocular microscope, made it possible for surgeons to take that same strip of donor hair and section the hairs the way they naturally grow, in units of 1, 2, 3, and 4 hairs. These “follicular units” can be transplanted into very tiny incisions placed very closely together. The result is excellent density, even after just one session. And because the hair is transplanted the same way it grows, there’s never an awkward phase where the patient looks strange or like a work in progress.
A further refinement of the technique, called Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) does away with the strip. Instead, these follicular units of donor hair are removed one at a time using a small circular punch. There is no incision with FUE and the minimally invasive procedure leaves no visible scars. The donor hairs are placed the same way they would be with FUG and the results of both types of procedure are completely natural. When performed by an accomplished surgeon — no one will know that you’ve had a hair transplant.
Hair restoration product literature, including Propecia information, is available in our office. Please contact us at 817.473.2120 to schedule an appointment or visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com

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