I had an Artas Robot Hair treatment of 2000 graft and it's been a year. Should I get another procedure with the same doctor?

Dear emanuel gonzalez,
Thank you for posting this question. There are several reasons why a hair restoration will fail, and nearly 100% of the time it is the failure of the surgeon and his team to perform the operation properly. It’s not an easy procedure, and just because a physician has an ARTAS robot is by no means a guarantee of a good, nor even acceptable result. The robot is not like a car wash where you stick your head in a “presto” out comes your head with all the hair moved to its new location. Instead, think of the ARTAS system as a paintbrush….it’s merely a tool. No paintbrush of any value can guarantee a beautiful painting. Same with the ARTAS system. It helps the surgeon perform one of the many aspects of hair transplant surgery; most of the procedure is still done by hand. It is not the technology, but the talent, experience, dedication and long track record of success of the physician and his team of technicians that will determine the cosmetic outcome of a hair transplant procedure. Every single time. Ask yourself: if this doctor failed like this the first time, why would you expect a different result the second time around? I hope this information is helpful to you.
Kind Regards,
Ken Anderson, MD, FISHRS

I am sorry that you didn't get the outcome you were looking for.  Looking at your pictures I agree that you should have had a better result with more hair growth than you wound up with.  The ARTAS robot is merely a tool that the surgeon uses to help with the extraction of the hair follicle.  It needs to be monitored and operated by an experienced restoration surgeon to the get best outcome.  For a successful outcome an experienced team is necessary which includes the surgeon and technicians.  Regarding returning to the original surgeon, in my opinion it depends on your level of comfort with them.  If you are not comfortable I would recommend seeking the opinion of an qualified hair restoration surgeon who has a great deal of experience and excellent results with the ARTAS system.  

If you don't trust your doctor after surgery and believe you got less than what you paid for, go back and voice your concerns.   If you believe your doctor may not do a good job, then find another doctor.  If you still trust your doctor, then go for it. 

ARTAS is a tool which requires a skilled surgeon and team to incorporate into their practice.  Often times it is best to find a reputable provider rather than the best price.  Look for a practice where you agree with their philosophy and let price be only one factor in your decision making.  Best Dr. Anil Shah

I am sorry to hear you had a less-than-desirable outcome with your original ARTAS procedure. The ARTAS is an incredible tool, but it does not compensate for an unexperienced doctor or staff who do not employ best practices in graft handling and preparation. The question you need to ask yourself is if you trust your original surgeon. If yes, I would recommend voicing your concerns to him and discussing a reasonable plan for a revision procedure. However, if you do not trust your original surgeon, I would recommend getting a second opinion by a doctor who specializes in the ARTAS procedure. The last thing you want is a revision procedure that doesn't produce the expected results. There are many options to maintain what you have and to make some enhancements for a more optimal result. 

Sorry to hear you didn't get a good result.  As some of my colleagues mentioned here, ARTAS is a great tool but by no means is it alone going to provide results. An experienced doctor and staff who employ best practices in graft handling, preparation, etc will all come together to get the best results.  For instance, in my practice, I use PRP and ATP with all my robotic treatments to increase graft survivability. I've also pioneered a method to implant hairs as I harvest them thereby greatly reducing out of body time for the grafts. In your case, I would strongly consider going elsewhere for another treatment as we all have limited donor hair and you don't want to "waste" more.  I cannot tell you how many touch ups I've done for people who have had bad results elsewhere- it's just so common and you are not alone.  Consider finding a doc who is part of the ISHRS which is an organization that only accepts serious and qualified restoration docs.  Many of us also offer virtual consultations, and travel credits, so do not hesitate to look outside of your immediate location.  I personally have patients come every month from another country let alone State.  I wish you the best of luck.  There is a lot to discuss in your particular case about how to approach a second procedure, and also, many options to maintain what you still have. Good luck!  Very Best, Dr. Rome

A failure of the robot is not the robot but the surgical team's organization. If this doctor did not fix this, then the same thing could happen again so speak with your doctor asking why the failure.