In my post about the end of strip hair transplants, I discussed the sudden departure of Jotronic from the Hasson & Wong (H&W) clinic after many years of working for them. Despite their stellar results and unmatched online reputation, H&W only offered strip procedures and never seemed to consider FUE as a serious alternative. In spite of the fact that the whole hair transplant industry was moving towards FUE. However, it looks like this thinking may be changing very soon.

100th ARTAS Robotic System Just Sold

Apparently, Hassson & Wong just purchased the 100th ever ARTAS robotic FUE extraction system. It seems like the clinic will now be offering FUE, unless this is just an experimental expensive venture. ARTAS (from Restoration Robotics) only became commercially available in 2011. However, it seems to have taken the industry by storm. This groundbreaking 100th sale to a renowned previously strip only clinic will only add to the popularity of robotic FUE hair transplant surgery.

I would guess that hair transplant prices will come down in the next several years due to this increasing automation necessitating less staff. Perhaps Restoration Robotics will then be able to reduce the price of its ARTAS system, as it sells more of them and achieves economies of scale.

Before ARTAS, strip hair transplant surgeons wishing to start practicing FUE had to sometimes guess the best graft extraction methodology. Often via some improvisation and invention of proprietary tools. The time consuming nature of FUE extractions and inconsistent graft survival rates probably prevented many strip only practitioners from shifting to FUE. ARTAS has changed the game completely. No more human fatigue and inconsistency related problems during FUE extraction.

Even more exciting, ARTAS may be able to create recipient sites and place grafts in the future.