Very exciting! I loved the video of the "robot in action." I was kind of surprised that the robot did not actually remove the grafts from the skin, since this kind of tech has been available for a while using suction (e.g. NeoGraft). Is that coming?
Careful removal of FUE grafts using proper technique and instrumentation is essential to avoid damaging them if you're not using suction. When we quote NeoGraft extraction rates, we include the time it takes to actually remove the grafts from the scalp as well, not just the incisions around the follicular unit.
I found myself flipping back and forth between the ARTAS robotic FUE video and my NeoGraft extraction video...
Can't wait to put man against machine...!
Just a reminder to all hair transplant patients... 'getting grafts' is really a very small part of a well-executed, natural-looking hair transplant procedure and an even smaller part of a long-term hair loss treatment plan. Sometimes patients (and docs, too!) get caught up in the tech and forget that 'where the rubber meets the road' in hair transplantation is Hairline Planning, Design & Execution.
So far, the only "art" in the hair transplant robot is in its name.
Seriously, though, I can't wait to take it for a test drive and see if it will help us to better help our patients! :-)
Regards,
Alan J. Bauman M.D.
Alan J. Bauman, MD
Member, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons
View my IAHRS Profile
Diplomate, American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons
My website: http://www.baumanmedical.com
Judging from the video it looks to me like there might be some small amount of suction being used to separate the grafts from the scalp. I’m assuming if the graft is lightly pulled with tweezers that there should be no damage to them, but I’m no doctor
I do like the idea that the system can calculate the angles of the hair and the diameter of the grafts etc.. Seems very high tech.
I read that Adamo Papa had 2500 grafts extracted by ARTAS today by Dr. Rahal. Lets see how it looks like in the months ahead. He is willing to do continious updates to show donor and growth from ARTAS.
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