Characteristics of robotically harvested hair follicles in Koreans

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2015-01, Vol.72 (1), p.146-150
• Main Authors: Shin, Jung Won, MD, Kwon, Soon Hyo, MD, Kim, Sung Ae, MD, PhD, Kim, Joo Yong, MD, Na, Jung Im, MD, PhD, Park, Kyoung Chan, MD, PhD, Huh, Chang Hun, MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alopecia - surgery; androgenetic alopecia; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Dermatology; Female; follicular unit extraction; Hair Follicle - transplantation; hair restoration surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; robot; Robotic Surgical Procedures; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - methods; transection rate
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.07.058

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.