What to Expect Before, During & After ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant
Are you considering a solution for hair loss that offers natural-looking results with minimal discomfort? The ARTAS robotic hair transplant might be the answer. Here's a detailed guide on what to expect before, during, and after this cutting-edge procedure.
Table of Contents
Why ARTAS?
In the past, traditional hair transplants involved procedures like hair plugs, which often resulted in unnatural-looking outcomes. ARTAS, FDA-approved in 2011, revolutionizes hair transplantation by providing more efficient and scar-free results. It allows surgeons to work with precision, leaving no linear scars.
Before Your Treatment
Preparation is key for a successful ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant. Your surgeon may advise you to abstain from smoking, alcohol, and specific medications for a designated period before the procedure. On the treatment day, wear loose, comfortable clothing for the procedure, which typically starts early in the morning and concludes by the afternoon.
Consultation and Planning
Before undergoing an ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant, you start with a comprehensive consultation with a hair restoration physician.
- Personalized Assessment: Your physician will assess your unique hair loss situation, discuss your expectations, and evaluate your overall health to determine your eligibility for the procedure.
- Customized Hairline Design: Utilizing the advanced ARTAS Hair Studio™ technology, your physician will create a 3D model of your head, helping you visualize and design a customized, natural-looking hairline.
Pre-Procedure Questions
Feel free to ask any remaining questions during your pre-procedure consultations.
- Timeline: Clarify the timeline of the procedure, including expected start and end times. Knowing the duration can help you plan your day effectively.
- Aftercare: Discuss post-procedure care instructions, including any specific products or medications you may need during the recovery period.
By preparing adequately before your ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant, you set the stage for a smoother and more successful experience. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you feel informed, comfortable, and confident throughout the entire process.
During Your Treatment
The ARTAS procedure, performed in-office, is relatively short, lasting between four to eight hours depending on the scope of treatment. You'll receive a local anesthetic, ensuring minimal pain. Bring along your favorite music or movies to stay relaxed during the procedure.
The ARTAS Procedure: Step by Step
- Design Your Personalized Hairline with ARTAS Hair Studio™:
- Free consultation to design a customized hairline using 3D modeling.
- Graft Harvesting: Sit comfortably as the ARTAS system identifies and harvests healthy grafts with minimal invasiveness.
- Recipient Site Making: Transferred design guides the ARTAS system to quickly and accurately place each hair.
After Your Treatment
Post-procedure, your scalp may be sensitive to the sun, so wearing a loose hat is recommended. Expect some swelling and minor discomfort for 1-3 days, but you can generally resume normal activities within a few days. Your surgeon will provide specific aftercare instructions.
The Recovery Process After the Treatment
Timeline:
- Most patients resume work and light exercise within seven days.
- Normal hair care resumes after 10 days.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, excessive sweating, and swimming for at least one week.
Potential Side Effects:
Hemorrhage, graft infection, telogen effluvium, pruritus, cyst formation, prolonged swelling.
Hair Transplant Results
While results are not guaranteed, you can anticipate initial growth within three months, with significant progress between five to eight months. The transplanted hair can be cut, styled, and washed just like your natural hair.
Results Timeline:
- New, permanent hairs appear around three months post-procedure.
- Noticeable improvement after six months.
- Full results are typically visible after a year.
Post-Procedure Care
Immediate Following the Procedure:
- Follow post-procedure instructions provided by your physician.
- Little pain; if discomfort occurs, it's usually manageable with non-aspirin pain relievers.
- Instructions include sleeping, activity modification, sun protection, and any prescribed medications.
Day and Week Following the Procedure:
- Use a mild shampoo, preferably baby shampoo, on the first day.
- Gently wash your hair to avoid manipulating the grafted areas.
- Gradually resume normal hair care routines.
ARTAS vs Strip Surgery & Manual FUE
ARTAS stands out as the most advanced hair restoration procedure, offering natural, permanent, and clinically proven results. Understanding why it surpasses alternatives such as invasive strip surgery or manual Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is crucial.
| Strip Surgery (FUT) | Manual FUE | ARTAS Robotic Hair Restoration | |
| Invasiveness | Highly invasive operation that entails more bleeding | FUE surgery is less invasive than strip surgery (FUT) | Minimally invasive with precise, error-free procedures |
| Scarring | Leaves a noticeable linear scar | If well-performed FUE does not leave a noticeable scar | ARTAS does not leave a noticeable scar, easily hidden by remaining hair |
| Recovery Time | Up to 5 weeks to recover, final results after 12-18 months | 7-10 days, final results after 12-18 months | 7-10 days, improvements noticeable after 9 months - Final results after 1 year |
| Precision | Relies on surgeon’s endurance and concentration | Relies on surgeon’s endurance and concentration | The robotic system utilizes Artificial Intelligence algorithms and micron-level precision robotics |
| Technique | Manually applied - A long, thin piece of tissue is removed from the back of the scalp. Individual follicular units are then removed from the strip using stereo-microscopic dissection. | Manually Applied - Hair follicles are extracted from the back of the head under local anesthesia with the help of special micro punches and implanted in the bald area. | Robot-Assisted - The ARTAS system eliminates the human error and fatigue aspect of a manual FUE procedure. There are no large incisions made on the skin. Instead, the robot accesses the scalp through small punctures that are used to insert follicular units into your head. |
Schedule a Consultation For ARTAS Robotic Hair Transplant
Considering an ARTAS robotic hair transplant? Take the first step in your hair restoration journey with Dermatology & Cosmetic Physicians by requesting a consultation with Dr. Steffes, Wisconsin’s exclusive provider of ARTAS treatments. Dr. Steffes provides ARTAS robotic hair transplants for clients out of West Bend, Fond Du Lac, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Chicago, and more.
Request your personalized consultation with Dr. Steffes to get started on the path to achieving the hair you've always wanted.
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