In recent years, hair transplants have gained a lot of attention, largely due to the advancements in technology, which now leave patients with a plethora of options when it comes to tackling thinning hair. While hair transplants can be traced back to the 1800s, the first modern-day hair transplant is accredited to a US dermatologist, Dr Norman Orentreich, in 1952. The way hair transplants are carried out today will look very different from the one carried out by Orentreich. In this article, we will cover the changing role of technology in hair transplants, focusing on how techniques have evolved and how we can expect the space to look in the future.

Traditional Hair Transplant Techniques

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular unit extraction involves shaving the back of the head before extracting individual hairs and implanting them into the patient’s scalp in areas that are thinning or balding. The main benefit of FUE is that the procedure doesn’t leave behind any noticeable signs and instead leaves the patient with tiny scars.

Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT)

Follicular unit transplantation is similar to follicular unit extraction, but involves removing a strip of skin from the back of the head. This strip is then divided into grafts, implanted into the scalp and then stitched closed. People who opt for FUT over FUE usually do so because the head doesn’t need to be shaved. However, it does leave a scar behind that can be visible when the hair is at a very short length.

New Hair Transplant Techniques

Robotic Hair Transplantation

Robotic hair transplants are an emerging minimally invasive procedure that combines AI with robotics for the precise extraction of hair follicles. This ensures that the healthiest follicles are removed, which often leads to better results. They are then implanted into the thinning area manually by a surgeon. 

Stem Cell Hair Transplant

Stem cell hair transplants don’t involve the transfer of hair follicles and are instead designed to regenerate hair growth. It is a slightly more complex approach as it requires stem cells to first be extracted from the patient, before they are injected into the scalp. It’s worth pointing out that this procedure is still in the experimental stages.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

LLLT offers a non-surgical approach to hair transplants. Instead, this laser-based procedure stimulates growth by increasing blood circulation in the scalp. It’s often used in combination with other treatments to either improve results or manage side effects. Combining LLLT with other hair transplant methods can greatly increase patient satisfaction, while others opt for it to retain their existing hair.

The Future of Hair Transplant Technology

Virtual Reality (VR)

While virtual reality is often seen as a tech-based novelty, we’re starting to see revolutionary use cases emerge outside of industries like gaming and entertainment. In healthcare, VR is starting to be used to recreate lifelike scenarios in a virtual world to enhance staff training, and this is something that could definitely be helpful to aspiring hair transplant surgeons who can first carry out the procedure in a virtual environment. The tech could also be useful to patients who could experience the procedure using VR before the real thing.

Sustainability

Most industries are heading towards a more sustainable future, and this applies to health and surgery. Going forward, we can expect hair transplants to involve greener materials and less wasteful practices. 

Ethics

The ethics around aesthetic procedures have been thrown into question recently, with an increasing number of unregulated clinics emerging. In terms of hair transplants, there has been an increase in the number of unsafe procedures being performed – an issue that the whole industry will need to fight going forward. As a patient, it’s recommended that you only consider using a licensed cosmetic surgeon when undergoing surgery, including a hair transplant.

Final Thoughts

Like most medical procedures, hair transplants are evolving. Traditional methods, which involve aggressive extraction of hair follicles, are starting to be replaced by less invasive procedures. For patients, this is providing safer, more effective options that are also sometimes more affordable. It’s important to remember that many new methods are still being perfected, which can increase the risk with newer methods. Despite this, it’s an exciting time for the space with potential around technologies like virtual reality.