Let’s Talk About Hair Loss

The older we become, the more hair we begin to lose on our scalp. Hair loss is a common genetic condition that can be a huge concern for both men and women as it can make them feel self-conscious and embarrassed about their appearance. While some patients have tried using special shampoos, home treatments, over-the-counter medications, and even wigs to address their hair loss, they may not always be effective and can sometimes only provide temporary results.

Fortunately, Dr. Pearce can provide patients with a solution that can treat their hair loss issue once and for all. The ARTAS™ iX is a state-of-the-art robotic system that has revolutionized hair loss treatment and can provide you with a fuller and more youthful head of hair.

HOW DOES HAIR LOSS OCCUR?

The average adult typically loses up to about 100 strands of hair every day. However, as we reach a certain age, some patients may realize they are losing more and more hair than usual. Sometimes it can occur gradually, while other times it can happen all of a sudden. Hair loss commonly occurs in both men and women due to certain factors such as genetics, aging, stress, or certain medical conditions. A few noticeable signs and symptoms of hair loss are gradual thinning on the top of the head, circular or patchy bald spots, or even sudden loss of large amounts of hair. When this happens, it is best you seek out treatment before your condition worsens.

TREATING HAIR LOSS WITH ARTAS™

The ARTAS™ iX is an FDA-approved device that delivers precise follicular harvesting and implantation of hair that is typically not affected by factors that cause hair loss. Candidates must be in good health and the reason for their hair loss should be well understood prior to the procedure. The ARTAS™ iX has three cameras that analyze the position of each hair up to 60 times per second to allow for the highest accuracy in harvesting your hair and to minimize damaging surrounding hairs. In order to allow the cameras to see the hairs it will harvest best, the hair is trimmed with clippers to the appropriate length. This usually entails shaving the entire scalp to a very short hair length (between 1 to 1.5 mm in length). However, this is typically only needed with male patients, and Dr. Pearce goes to great lengths to avoid shaving the entire scalp in women.

During your procedure, the ARTAS™ device will use computer-imaging software to identify healthy hair grafts that can be used for transplantation. The selected hairs are then carefully harvested as the ARTAS™ system preserves the natural look of the donor area on your scalp. Once the hair grafts have been collected, they will be planted into bald spots or thinning areas of your scalp. ARTAS™ will not leave a linear scar on your scalp, and you can expect to see results after nine to 12 months months depending on how long you wear your hair. Other benefits of ARTAS™ include:

• Heightened accuracy
• Little to no downtime (can return to work the next day if desired)
• Minimal pain and discomfort
• Custom-made results

THE BENEFITS OF ARTAS™ FOR HAIR LOSS

There are many different types of procedures men and women can undergo to treat their hair loss and achieve a full head of hair. However, most of these methods cannot compare to the technology of the ARTAS™ Robotic Hair Transplant.

SIMILARITIES

Both the ARTAS™ iX Hair Restoration System and handheld FUE tools are minimally invasive treatments that harvest the hair grafts along a patient’s scalp without damaging the hair and the surrounding tissue. It also results in minimal scarring, which can be especially beneficial for people with short hair. Each procedure also requires minimal downtime compared to follicular unit transplantation, or the strip technique. There is little to no pain following the ARTAS™ iX procedure or handheld technique, and patients will experience minimal discomfort during their recovery period. Sutures do not need to be removed with the ARTAS™ and handheld FUE tool approach as compared to a strip procedure.

DIFFERENCES

While both the ARTAS™ and the handheld tool approach have many things in common, there are significant differences that make ARTAS™ more reliable. For starters, ARTAS™ uses 3 real-time cameras to keep track of the position of each follicle up to 60 times per second. This means as the robot moves around the area it is working in, it always knows the position of the follicle as well as the exit angle of the follicle in relation to the scalp. This allows the ARTAS iX system to maintain a harvesting accuracy that allows for more usable grafts for your hair restoration procedure. Manual FUE harvesting is often done with a hand-held motorized FUE punch that is operated with a foot pedal. This requires the operator to maintain sharp vision and precise eye-hand coordination for 4 to 6 hours depending on the amount of grafts to be harvested. While it is possible to do this, humans can get fatigued and the movement of the hand can vary from harvest to harvest. Fatigue as the day goes on can lead to increased transection rates and less usable grafts for your hair transplant surgery.

The ARTAS™ cameras also use exact precision when making the recipient sites where your newly transplanted grafts will go. The cameras allow the Artificial Intelligence to track your existing hairs in the recipient site and prevent damage to these hairs. This allows you to keep what hair you already have and a better chance at a fuller, thicker head of hair. After all, what good is a Hair transplant procedure if you are injuring the hairs you still have?

To learn more about our ARTAS™ Robotic Hair Transplant procedure, please call our office at (512) 764-9076, or you may schedule a consultation with us online today!