Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a minimally invasive hair transplant method that involves removing your own donor follicles and implanting them where you need more hair coverage. It is performed without scalpels and requires no incisions or stitches—this means there is no linear scar. Dr. Do uses the ARTAS® Robotic Hair Transplant System to perform the FUE method. Aesthetic Surgery Institute is one of only two locations in Houston, Texas to use this high-precision robotic tool for hair transplantation.

Hair transplantation using the ARTAS® system is virtually undetectable. Unlike the FUT (strip surgery) method, there is no surgical removal of a strip of scalp from the back or sides of the head. Instead, a robotic unit precisely removes individual follicles and transplants them to the new site.

You won’t be required to shave your head, but you will need to get a short trim in the donor area. This will give the ARTAS® system a clear view of the donor area so it can visualize, track, and harvest each grouping of hairs. The surgeon will let you know how much and where you’ll need to trim.

Most patients feel no pain. The team at Aesthetic Surgery Institute will numb your scalp before the procedure. This will dramatically lessen or eliminate any pain or discomfort. If you do feel any pain during the procedure, our team may administer local analgesic to make you more comfortable. Some discomfort and swelling are possible after the procedure; this usually subsides within 1-3 days.

You should start to see new hairs around 3 months after the procedure. After around 6 months you can expect to see a noticeable improvement and full results after around a year. Every patient is different, and timelines will vary somewhat for each person. Transplanted hair grows naturally in phases. Our surgeon will advise you on what to expect throughout the process.

Hair transplantation doesn’t stop the loss of non-transplanted hairs. However, hairs that are transplanted by the ARTAS® system are permanent and will grow identically to those found in the donor area where they were harvested. The ARTAS® system uses your own permanent growing hair, usually from the back of the head. Hair in this area is often not as susceptible to the conditions that cause male pattern baldness. In most cases, transplanted hair lasts a lifetime. Our surgeon will explain the causes of male/female pattern baldness in more detail and let you know what to expect from the procedure.

The ARTAS® robotic hair transplant procedure is a minimally invasive procedure and there are very few side effects. You may have slight swelling and redness after the procedure. This should go away within 1-3 days.

The ARTAS® robotic hair transplant procedure is suitable for both men and women. It’s ideal for patients who prefer to wear their hair short. People who have advanced hair loss and those with curly, fine, or very light-colored hair may not be suitable candidates for robotic hair transplant. During your consultation Dr. Do will explain whether you are a good candidate for the ARTAS® procedure or whether another hair transplantation method may be a more suitable option.

The recovery time after ARTAS® hair transplant is shorter than for most cosmetic procedures. Most patients can go back to their normal schedule almost immediately. If you experience swelling or redness after the procedure, you may choose to take it easy for a couple of days.

The cost of the ARTAS® robotic hair transplant procedure averages around $7,500. Cost may vary depending on your situation. Aesthetic Surgery Institute charges per session, not per graft. We perform as many grafts as needed per session to create your ideal hairline. Doing pricing this way means you don’t need to worry about how much each graft costs.