Robotics and Automation in Hair Transplants

AI and robotics have spiked in popularity at a break-neck pace, giving rise to many innovative technologies and operational enhancements across various industries in just a few short years.

One industry that has benefited greatly from the advancements of AI and robotics is the field of healthcare and cosmetics care. In particular, hair transplants have seen significantly better results thanks to the widespread presence and continuous improvement of these technologies.

Before robotics and automation, surgeons typically restore hair on the scalp solely with their hands and hand-held tools. While proficient surgeons offer satisfactory results, this can be a time-consuming process. It’s also error-prone and dependent on the skill of the surgeon on that particular day.

However, times are changing, and robotics and AI are starting to see more utility in the hair transplant process. They’re not directly meant to challenge the job of the surgeon, but they can be an excellent tool in helping optimise hair transplant results and patient safety—which is what most people want at the end of the day.

To learn more about automation and robotic trends in hair transplants at present, read on for a more comprehensive overview of this matter. Let’s jump right in.

Hair Transplant Procedures

It’s important to understand the different types of hair transplant procedures a person experiencing hair loss can access. Two fairly popular procedures include the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT).

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

The FUE method is a minimally invasive procedure in which the surgeon takes individual hair follicles (or grafts) and moves these follicles into balding areas of the scalp. 

In this transplant process, the surgeon uses a circular punch tool to extract hair follicles in the parts of the scalp with normal hair growth (the donor area). Following that, the surgeon will then transplant these follicles into the receded part of the scalp (recipient areas).

The FEU method is known for leaving little to no scarring and a fast healing time. 

This process is a fairly successful method of undergoing hair transplant, with a 90% survival rate of the graft. However, this success rate shoots to as high as 100% with the integration of robotics and automation.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Another popular hair transplant method is the FUT procedure. This procedure requires the surgeon to cut and remove a strip of tissue with hair attached from the donor area. 

This strip of tissue is then separated into smaller grafts or follicle units containing even smaller patches of hair. Then, the surgeon meticulously implants these individual grafts into the receiving area that’s experiencing hair loss.

This hair transplant method is preferred for people who plan to grow their hair long, as unlike the FUE method, this method leaves a noticeable scar on the scalp. However, when it comes to transferring large batches of hair follicles with a high survival rate, the FUT method edges out over FUE.

Other Treatments

Some clinics also offer clinic-exclusive treatment plans with varying amounts of success in restoring hair. 

One of the more successful hair restoration procedures is the precise follicle placement (PFP) procedure of Gro Clinics. 

This procedure is known to restore up to 3,500 strands of natural-looking hair in one session. This can be an effective alternative if you live in Australia and want a cost-effective hair transplant procedure.

Future Trends: Robotics and Automation in Hair Transplants

The widespread integration of robotics and automation in hair transplants shows that these technologies are very helpful in performing the procedure with precision. 

But in the grand scheme of things, this technology is still relatively new, and there’s so much room for robotics and automation-based technologies to grow within this space.

Here are some concepts that industry leaders are trying to wrangle their heads around and implement in the next generation of this technology.

1. Fully Automated Hair Transplants

As it currently stands, no modern hair transplant procedure relies completely on robotics to transplant hair successfully. A human handler needs to activate and oversee the process to ensure that the entire operation runs smoothly.

This reality shows a potential path for robotics companies to cross if they aim to fully automate hair transplants. That said, this is understandably a tough feat, and it’s likely going to happen nowhere in the near future just yet.

2. VR Technology

Another unique possibility for the future is virtual surgical operations. Through this method, the doctor doesn’t have to be in the same space as the patient. They can perform the various steps of the procedure remotely, given that the patient and the tools are all present and compliant.

3. Aftercare Device

Robotic systems can help facilitate follow-up check-ups to track healing progress and scalp status after the surgery. This machine has yet to exist, and it can be a great way to prevent future complications post-surgery and lead patients to a more assured path towards recovery.

4. General Refinement

The most impactful trend that robotic hair transplant equipment providers like ARTAS focus on is the general refinement of their product line. Current technology can perform various activities at high precision like high-resolution scalp mapping and angle-based follicle harvesting and implantation.

As the technology develops, the technology can enjoy minor improvements to improve the surgical experience for both the patient and the doctor.

Robotic Assistance in Hair Transplants

You may be wondering, how do robots assist in follicle harvesting in the first place? 

We’ll list the ways these hair transplant machines play a role in the overall hair transplant process. Let’s dive into a step-by-step guide and understand how this robotic tool supports this clinical procedure.

1. Preparation and Scanning: The surgeon will shave all your hair and apply an anaesthetic to numb your scalp. Then they position the robotic arm to scan the scalp with its digital cameras in search of healthy donor hairs.
2. Extraction: The surgeon carefully uses the robot to extract hairs from recipient areas. The robot does the bulk of the work, reducing surgeon fatigue.
3. Storage: The surgeon stores the grafts in a sterile and hydrated solution with pre-disposed humidity and temperature levels.
4. Graft harvesting: The most important part. This robotic system can precisely target individual follicles without damaging the tissue lining consistently and quickly. They can also be configured to work with different hair types and densities, allowing it to adapt to the patient’s needs.
5. Incision: The surgeon cuts an opening in the donor area with a specialised hair transplant tool.
6. Implantation: The surgeon implants the harvested hair and then stitches back the opening.

Even with robotic assistance, it’s essential for patients to spend the next few days in recovery. They should stick to the medication plan prescribed by the surgeon to ensure that the hair procedure will reap results once enough time has passed.

The Impact of Automation on Precision and Recovery

Robotics have increased the success rate of the traditional hair transplant surgery process, but that’s not the extent of its impact. 

The ARTAS hair transplant automation and robotics tool holds several other key advantages. Let’s explore these in more detail.

1. Minimises Scarring

Robotics tend to operate at a far greater consistency than humans—even trained surgeons have no match for it. The ARTAS hair transplant tool also has a mechanism that analyses the patient’s hair type to ensure that key variables are accounted for before the operation. 

These factors help in reducing nicks and imprecise cuts on the skin. This reduces tissue trauma, which helps in concealing the scarring once the scalp has fully healed.

2. Reduction in Recovery Time

By using a precise robotic and automation tool, patient recovery time drastically decreases. This is because the number of cuts and incisions is reduced to the lowest possible number.

Furthermore, the delicate handling of this machinery when operating also helps reduce the risk of accidental surgical complications. Both these factors combined help reduce the patient’s recovery time and get them to resume daily activities far sooner.

3. Increases Graft Survival

Automation and robotics technology also help improve the survival rate of each follicle and graft. This is because the robotic arms are extremely delicate in extracting the follicles in the healthy sides of the scalp. This reduces the level of stress that the graft may face, which increases its survival rate.

Furthermore, the implantation procedure is also navigated with great care and accuracy, as the machine positions the angle to optimally position the grafts for the highest chance of survival. 

4. Reduces Surgeon Fatigue

The robotic arm also helps assist the surgeon in performing a wide variety of repetitive tasks. 

This helps the surgeon remain focused when operating on the patient. In turn, this can improve surgical outcomes as the surgeon retains a steady grip and focused mind throughout the session with fewer tasks to juggle.