FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTION (FUE)
No scalpels, no stitches, no linear scarring.
The latest in high-tech hair restoration.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a method of harvesting hair for a hair restoration surgery where individual hair follicles are removed one at a time from the donor area. The significant advantage of this method is that it leaves no linear scarring, so patients can wear very short hairstyles after recovery – a common limitation of the FUT hair transplant method.
Follicular unit extraction (FUE) is a method of harvesting hair for a hair restoration surgery where individual hair follicles are removed one at a time from the donor area. The significant advantage of this method is that it leaves no linear scarring, so patients can wear very short hairstyles after recovery – a common limitation of the FUT hair transplant method.
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THE BENEFITS OF FUE
FUE offers a minimally invasive approach, leaving only tiny wounds and no stitches. Instead of removing a strip of scalp and using sutures such as in an FUT procedure, individual hair follicles are carefully extracted using a small, punch-like instrument. This approach results in faster healing and less discomfort in the donor area after the surgery. In addition, unlike strip harvesting, which leaves a noticeable linear scar, FUE leaves tiny, dot-like scars that are much less noticeable. These scars are scattered across the donor area and can be easily concealed, even if you prefer shorter hairstyles. Finally, if you have a tight scalp, a linear procedure may present challenges. This is common if you’ve had multiple FUT procedures in the past. FUE can be a suitable alternative in such cases, as it does not require the removal of a strip of scalp.
FUE Devices
Different FUE devices exist because each one has unique features and functionalities, catering to the varying needs of both doctors and patients. These devices allow for the improvement and personalization of the FUE procedure, and each has its unique benefits and potential limitations. Let’s explore each of them individually:
ARTASiX
The Anderson Center for Hair was the first practice in Georgia to offer the ARTAS Robot-Assisted Hair Restoration System, as well as the newest iX ARTAS Robotic System, a state-of-the-art, surgeon-controlled medical device that performs the follicular-unit excision (FUE) extraction process safely and effectively.
The primary advantage of the ARTAS robot is precision and consistency. It uses advanced imaging technology and artificial intelligence to identify and extract hair follicles with incredible accuracy, minimizing damage to the grafts. This technology reduces the human error factor, and because it’s a robot, it doesn’t get tired, so the first graft is just as precise as the last. However, the ARTASiX system needs to be able to “see” high contrast between the color of the skin and hair, so it’s not always the right tool for grey or white hair on pale skin or dark hair on dark skin.
Neograft
The Neograft device is a semi-automatic tool for hair transplantation. It is handheld, giving the surgeon control over the extraction process, but it also uses pneumatic pressure to extract the grafts, which can be less traumatic for the follicles. The Neograft allows for quicker extraction compared to the manual extractions. However, it still relies on the skill, experience, and stamina of the surgeon for optimal results.
WAW FUE
The WAW system, developed by Dr. Jean Devroye, is another semi-automatic device. The key feature of the WAW is its oscillating, rather than rotating, movement during extraction which aims to reduce the risk of torsion damage to the grafts. Additionally, the WAW system utilizes a more fluid movement during the extraction process, which some surgeons find more intuitive and less fatiguing over long procedures. It requires a high level of expertise for best outcomes, but when used properly, it can provide excellent results with minimal damage to the hair follicles.
PROVIDING UNPARALLELED ACCURACY
How the ARTAS Robotic System works.
The ARTAS Robotic System is a tool used to perform efficient, precise follicular unit excision (FUE) procedures with unparalleled accuracy. This method allows your surgeon to remove the hair for transplantation from the donor area without using a scalpel, or creating any linear scarring—a telltale sign that a traditional linear strip type of hair transplantation has been performed. The ARTAS Robotic System also allows for very short hairstyles, which is a well-known limitation of the traditional linear hair transplant procedures. With the ARTAS Robotic System, the recovery time is significantly shortened, with noticeably less discomfort, and with less physical restrictions that following a traditional linear strip hair transplant procedure.
IMPLANTING HAIR FOLLICLES ONE BY ONE
Prior to the ARTAS Robotic System, an FUE hair transplant was usually done manually in an incredibly painstaking process. Until now, all FUE hair transplantation methods were performed by hand, so FUE hair transplants were often rife with variability and human error. With the ARTAS Robotic FUE System, a small area of the scalp is scanned and digitized to identify and track each hair using complex software algorithms, and custom, stereoscopic surgical cameras.
Image-Guided Robotics
Updating coordinates every 20 milliseconds, the ARTAS System’s image-guided robotics harvests follicular units for transplant with micron-level precision. Each follicle is selectively harvested with minimal trauma to the surrounding skin to maintain the look of your donor area, with no linear scar that is associated with traditional linear strip techniques.
Gentle Implantation
Your surgeon will find sites for implantation in areas of your scalp that are lacking hair, carefully making each site individually to create as natural a pattern as possible, following the angles of your own hair, and creating permanent, natural hairlines. The follicles are gently implanted into the recipient sites individually.
No Downtime
You can return to work a few days after your ARTAS Robot System procedure, and keep an active lifestyle without worrying if anyone will notice. There are no sutures, stitches, or staples to remove, and the tiny wounds created with the FUE procedure heal quickly.
Rapid Results
With ARTAS, you will start to see the results in three to four months, with results and hair density improving until eight to 12 months following a procedure. We are always available for graft-check appointments as your new hair grows in.
