Ken Anderson
Anderson Center for Hair, USA
Title: From Manual Punches to Robotic Surgery: My 13-Year Experience with Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)
Biography
Biography: Ken Anderson
Abstract
Millions of men and women suffer from hair loss. Male- and female-pattern baldness can be a very stressful and debilitating condition. Nearly universally it negatively affects our self-image, and also negatively affects how others perceive us. Hair Restoration surgery is a surgical solution to hair loss, and one that has undergone a tremendous amount of change and refinement in just the last 15 years. The “pluggy” and “doll’s hair” appearance of hair restoration surgery patients is long gone, as it is now a follicle-by-follicle transplant. The resultant linear scarring on the back and sides of the scalp (e.g.: the donor area) is a telltale sign that a surgical hair restoration procedure has taken place, with all the associated social stigma. A method of extracting hair from the donor area without using scalpels but instead with tiny circular punches was developed in the late 1990s. This technique is called Follicular Unit Extraction (e.g.: FUE) and is a specialized form of hair restoration surgery that is growing in popularity around the world. This is a preferred surgical option for those who desire a hair restoration surgery but do not want the telltale linear scar on the scalp. I have been performing FUE surgery since 2003, and I will review my 13 year experience with the technique. An emphasis will be placed on surgical robotic technology, its advantages and limitations, and how it is transforming the patient experience, and enhancing cosmetic outcomes.