Robotic assisted devices are promoted by many hair transplant clinics as a quick, foolproof tool for performing the Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) procedure. However, the truth is very different. Unfortunately, many men considering a hair restoration procedure don’t learn the truth, because misinformation is more prevalent than facts – be it on the websites of unscrupulous hair transplant or plastic surgery clinics, articles in men’s lifestyle and fashion publications, or social media.
As we at Tempus Hair Restoration always say, “Knowledge is power.” In the interest of giving you the knowledge to make an informed decision, here is what you need to know about robotic devices, and why you should expect (and demand) manual extractions and implantation by an experienced surgeon.
How a Robotic Assisted Device is Used in FUE Hair Transplants
Instead of the surgeon choosing which hair follicles to harvest from the donor area, a robotic assisted system evaluates the hair and – based on a complex algorithm – chooses the follicles that it identifies as being the best for transplantation. The device then harvests these follicles by means of a computer-controlled robotic arm. Although practices that utilize this device advertise it as the future of hair transplantation, there are limitations, even when used according to medical ethical standards and within the law (more about this later).
Narrow range of good candidates – The best-known robotic assisted device is very limited in those who are appropriate candidates. It can only be used on people with straight, dark hair – a fact that isn’t always mentioned in the media. People with blond, fair or curly hair (even dark or black hair) are not good candidates.
Restricted donor areas – Many patients require an extended donor area when the back of the head doesn’t have enough hair for a successful transplant. A robotic device can’t be used in such a scenario, as it is only able to extract hair from the back and sides of the head.
The possibility of healing complications – The best-known robotic device uses large diameter punches to extract follicles, which can cause complications in healing and even damage nearby follicles.
Graft survival – An experienced surgeon performing manual hair graft extractions can expect a survival rate of 97-95%. The robotic device has a survivability percentage of around 90%. This lower percentage can be attributed to the fact that after being harvested, the hair grafts are left in place by the device until the doctor removes them. This delay can lead to drying of the grafts, leaving fewer that are viable.
There is another type of system marketed for FUE transplants that you may see advertised. It uses automatic equipment to perform hair restoration surgery, and comes with a pneumatic motor – which operates through the expansion of air inside the device. This controls the pressure for extracting hair grafts from the back of the scalp and then implanting them into the recipient site. This is technically not a robotic device, as it features hand-held devices that should be operated by the hair transplant surgeon. The “should be” is important to note. Although it can be useful when operated by a qualified surgeon, this system has the potential for abuse by unethical clinics to relegate the procedure to untrained technicians due to its high level of automation.