ARTAS® FAQs

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  • How does hair transplantation with the ARTAS System work?

Under the control of your doctor, the ARTAS System utilizes its robotic arm and sophisticated digital imaging to harvest follicular units. It continuously re-calculates hair position, angle, and other parameters to track each follicular unit to achieve optimal harvest results. The ARTAS technology targets follicular units in a random fashion to ensure the donor areas retain their natural appearance. The individual follicular units are stored until they are implanted into the recipient area resulting in natural-looking hair re-growth.

  • When will my new hair start to grow?

Transplanted hair grows naturally in long phases. The implanted hair takes time to develop its own blood supply, as with any hair transplant procedure. New hair is not usually seen until about three months after the transplant and will continue to come in over the course of a full year. At approximately six months, you will enjoy a noticeable improvement and after a full year, you will see final results.

  • How are the ARTAS procedure results different than the old “Hair Plugs” people used to get?

Old fashioned “hair plugs” included the harvesting of large patches of hair follicles that resulted in an awkward and unnatural appearance once implanted. The ARTAS System uses its computer-assisted robotic arm and digital mapping to pinpoint individual follicular units from the donor area for dissection. This process provides the doctor more control and precision in designing a natural looking hair growth pattern. Because the ARTAS System enables unmatched precision and accuracy, doctors are able to extract healthy robust grafts for optimal growth.

  • Are ARTAS® Procedure hair transplant results permanent?

The ARTAS Procedure transplants permanent hair, typically from the back of the head, to thinning areas of the scalp. As this hair is not susceptible to conditions that cause male pattern baldness, transplanted hair can last a lifetime.

  • How long does the ARTAS Procedure take?

The ARTAS Procedure usually takes from four to eight hours as determined by your doctor to achieve your hair restoration goals. You are seated during the process, and the doctor and staff are there with you to maximize your comfort throughout the procedure.

  • How long will the healing time take?

Recovery time with the ARTAS Procedure is less than with most surgical cosmetic procedures. Healing time is short, and you can usually go back to your daily activities after a day or two. Some doctors schedule a follow up visit the morning after the procedure to examine your scalp and to teach you how to take care of your newly implanted hair follicles. It takes approximately three days for the transplanted hair to “take” and for growth cells to be transferred from the follicles to the scalp. Once healed, the implanted hairs will form a scab which can be gently rubbed off after 10 days, after which your appearance returns to “normal.”

  • Will people know I have had a hair restoration procedure?

With the ARTAS Procedure, any scarring is minimal and virtually undetectable. Transplanted hair grows in gradually, over a period of a year, reducing the chance that people will notice the procedure.

  • Does the ARTAS hair transplant procedure hurt?

The ARTAS Procedure, an outpatient procedure performed in the doctor’s office, requires only a local anesthetic. Once the scalp is numb, the patient feels no pain. If the numbness starts to wear off during treatment, the doctor applies additional anesthetic into the scalp. Some patients can experience minor discomfort and swelling post-procedure, which subsides in one to three days.

  • Will there be visible scarring in the Donor area?
Because the ARTAS Procedure harvests individual follicular units from within the existing hair, there is minimal scarring in the donor area. Patients are able to wear their hair at almost any length or style with confidence.
  • Do I have to cut my hair before treatment?
Trimming the patient’s hair in the donor area allows the ARTAS® System to accurately visualize, track and harvest each follicular unit for transplantation. The doctor is also able to harvest hair from a larger area of your scalp. Patients then receive more follicular units per procedure. For smaller procedures, patients can choose to trim only the harvest area that is needed to achieve the desired results. Once the individual follicular units are extracted, hair grows back at a normal rate.