Characteristics of robotically harvested hair follicles in Koreans

Abstract

Background: Recently, an automated robotic hair restoration device was developed and is increasingly being used for hair restoration.

Objective: We sought to analyze the hair follicles of Korean patients that were harvested by a hair restoration robotic device.

Methods: Data were reviewed from a total of 22 patients who underwent robotic follicular unit (FU) extraction hair restoration surgery at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Hair follicles collected from 3 grids in the central parts of the safe donor zone of each patient were analyzed.

Results: The total number of harvested FUs was 5213, and the total number of collected FUs was 4955. The average yield was 95.1% ± 3.5%. Among the 12,017 harvested hairs, 590 hairs were transected and the average transection rate was 4.91% ± 2.9%. FUs of double hairs made up the majority of harvested FUs (44.1%), followed by triple hairs (31.9%). The transection rate increases in FUs that contain multiple hairs.

Limitations: A relatively small sample size and lack of comparative study with conventional FU extraction modalities are limitations.

Conclusions: The robotic system qualifies for use in hair restoration surgery. It efficiently harvests not only single hairs but multiple hairs as well.

Keywords: androgenetic alopecia; follicular unit extraction; hair restoration surgery; robot; transection rate.