More St. Louis highlights

St. Louis…Day 2

It’s Day 2 of  the 4th Annual Hair Transplant 360 Workshop. Yesterday I was part of a live surgery workshop featuring hair restoration with the ARTAS robotic system, the strip method with a trichophytic closure, and our own SAFE Scribe System. These three donor harvest options were demonstrated during a surgery in Denver and recorded in HD to be shared today with all conference participants. Thank you, Samuel Lam, MD, for taking the lead on this exciting teaching/learning venue, and Bessam Farjo, MD, for narrating the experience.

Tina Lardner Named ISHRS Surgical Assistant of the Year

Tina been with HSC for 16 years. We couldn’t be prouder.

When Restoration = Recovery

We’re here in the Bahamas. Yes, I know, tough venue. But in all seriousness, it is exciting to see hair restoration surgeons from the global community and hear the FUE successes being achieved. Equally inspiring to hear what’s being done through the ISHRS Pro Bono Hair Restoration Foundation. Will have a story of our own to share about this shortly, but in the mean time, here’s how it this life-changing program works.

Any of us who has dealt with hair loss knows how it can impact one’s self-esteem and self-image. When the loss is related to severe physical injury or illness, however, the emotional effect can be all the more damaging. The ISHRS Pro Bono Foundation has launched PROJECT RESTORE to match these patients with member physicians. We who participate volunteer our services, and PROJECT RESTORE helps with financial, travel, lodging and medical assistance. Looking forward to telling you our own experience.  For now, you can learn more here.

www.ishrs.org/ishrs-pro-bono.php

Global Gathering

Some teaching, more learning and, perhaps, a little time to relax: that’s this week’s schedule when the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS) hosts its 20^th Scientific Meeting in the Bahamas. I’m honored to have been asked, once again, to present on the topic of FUE as the gold standard of hair replacement. Between our team’s work at HSC, my involvement with the ARTAS robotics program and our further progress with the SAFE Scribe, we know we’re making a positive difference.

So are many other physicians and practices, which is what sets these sessions, apart. It’s a gathering of more than 1000 physicians from more than 60 countries. We all specialize in hair loss management and restoration, and we all share a commitment to the highest standards of medical practice and medical ethics. The ISHRS not only provides the continuing education to make the best better, it helps assure the public the latest information on medical and surgical treatments for hair loss.

Glad to be part of the group.

Sharing ARTAS with “The Doctors”

It was my privilege to share the ARTAS technology as part of “The Doctors” Amazing Medical Makeovers feature. The program aired yesterday. Here’s a clip.

watch?v=yQoGeEx-pO0&feature=youtu.be

On the Countdown

• The 20th Annual Scientific Meeting

October 17-21, Bahamas

• The 4th Annual Hair Restoration Surgery Cadaver Workshop

November 16-18, St. Louis

• The 17th Annual Congress of the Japan Society of Clinical Hair Restoration

November 22-23,   Tokyo

Bald like Bruce?

A patient recently handed me a copy of this NPR story http://www.npr.org/2012/05/03/151947681/confronting-your-crown-male-pattern-baldness

with a grin and a mutter: “Yeah. Like all our heads are shaped like Bruce Willis’.” We commiserated briefly on the realities of genetics, then proceeded with his restoration plan. In this case, we’ll be able to use the ARTAS to achieve the results he’s wanting. Moreover, he’s a cyclist…and he won’t have to worry about those tanned spots on his bald head that this article referenced.

For those who are satisfied with their shaved-head appearance, I applaud the choice. But reality is, most of us prefer hair. And with today’s restoration options, more of us can have it—even when male pattern baldness is a genetic factor.

The FUE-Palooza Physicians

Have confirmed our physician presenters for the first FUE-Palooza slated for Denver this August 4-5.  It’s my honor to join with the following hair restoration experts:

John Cole, MD, of Atlanta, GA

Robert True, MD, of New York, NY

William Yates, MD, of Chicago, IL

Scott Boden, MD, of Hartford, CT

Bradley Wolf, MD, of Cincinnati, OH

The six of us will be dividing our time between my HSC offices and a second clinical site here in metro Denver. The 60 participants will be divided into two groups so that each can optimize the powered-FUE surgical instruction. This is a bit of a different format for ISHRS workshops; my HSC team and I are most excited to help launch it.

ARTAS Advances

A quick update on the ARTAS image-guided robotic system that features our own SAFE Scribe technology: progress continues. Our Robotic Restoration/HSC collaboration is moving forward with monthly testing on the system. Our clinical trials are on schedule, as well. Most important, our immediate and long-term outcomes are excellent.  The grafts look great.

The before-and-after photos at right reflect the successes we’re seeing. These results were achieved with 1600 ARTAS grafts.