Understanding the difference between manual FUE (aka follicular unit extraction) and Robotic FUE

What is FUE?

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a type of hair transplant in which follicular units are extracted from the donor area one at a time. The procedure was first popularized by Drs. William Rassman and Robert Bernstein in 2002 following their seminal paper on the subject. When performed using hand-held instruments, FUE is a labor-intensive process that requires surgeons to extract hundreds to thousands of follicular units and create an equal number of recipient sites during sessions that can last over eight hours.

Robotic FUE and why we use it

A limitation of FUE when performed manually is that the repetitive process is subject to human variability and error. At Bernstein Medical, we use the ARTAS Robot, a physician controlled, computerized device that uses a three-dimensional optical system and robotic arm to isolate follicular units from the back of the scalp in a hair transplant. The robotic system assists the physician in the extraction of grafts with precision and speed. If the FUE were to be done by hand, the procedure, which includes thousands of repetitive movements, can lead to operator fatigue and result in increased transection and damage to grafts. With the ARTAS robotic system, the quality of the first and the last graft harvested will be the same.

Learn More About the ARTAS Robotic System