In the traditional FUT or strip method of hair transplant patients are required to endure an invasive procedure that removes an entire section, or strip of hair and scalp from the back of the head. This is the donor site, the section of scalp with the thickest hair growth. Due to the removal, the two sections of divided scalp are then stapled together with sutures, creating a permanent scar around the entire scalp. Some patients report permanent numbness where the donor strip of scalp was removed while others say that their scalp feels “too tight.” Once the section of donor skin and hair follicles are removed from the scalp, units of one to four hair follicles are then removed from the donor strip. These are planted in pre-created recipient sites over the treatment area to create a hairline and thicker area density. Until the automated FUE method, the strip method was still a faster procedure than manual FUE. Now with NeoGraft® automated FUE technology, however, the strip method of hair restoration is no longer patients’ only viable option.
NeoGraft® and Artas technologies perform Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), which is a minimally invasive method that removes hair follicles individually rather than in entire strips of scalp. Donor follicles are removed from fuller sections of hair using a 1mm punch, which makes a tiny circular incision surrounding each individual hair follicle. Then the follicles are removed using pneumatic pressure or suction. Once the desired number of follicles are removed, donor hair grafts are then implanted in a way much like FUE but using reverse pneumatic pressure. The exact position of each hair follicle can be controlled during implantation in the treatment section of the scalp. As the follicles are initially removed individually, they may be implanted individually with the 1mm punch as well. This results in a more precise and natural looking hairline. All things considered, this innovative hair transplant technology is superior to the traditional “strip method.” In short, it is the next level as it provides patients with:
Hair restoration that does not require IV sedation
Less invasive technique for extracting hair follicles
No incisions, sutures or linear scarring
Little bleeding and less complications during surgery
More precision in surgery resulting in more natural-looking hairlines
Though these older hair restoration methods were viable options for some patients, advances in technology have led to minimally invasive hair restoration treatments that can achieve substantial results with less downtime and recovery. Artas i-X® Hair Transplant is a robotic hair restoration treatment that selects only the healthiest hair follicles for transplantation and removes those individual follicles without damaging surrounding hairs. Patients undergoing Artas i-X® Hair Transplant can avoid the lengthy incisions, stitches, and linear scarring associated with past hair restoration techniques.
