Blog – Hair Loss, Hair Transplants, Hair Replacement, Hair Restoration – Hair Sciences Center, Denver Colorado, Dr. James Harris, MD, FACS

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Journaling

Go, Broncos!

Best of luck, Denver Broncos, in Sunday’s match-up with the Vikings. After last week’s breath-taker, an HSC staffer asked if I’d realized that the 70,000 people viewing our recent live-stream ARTAS System procedure would “virtually” fill Mile Hi/Sports Authority Stadium.

Must say, knowing we’re now able to disseminate accurate information on hair restoration instantly is a big deal.  As I talk with prospective patients, I’m amazed how many have delayed their decision because of faulty “facts” on the procedure, the investment and more.  If you have questions—whether about FUE, non-surgical options, laser treatments or other facets of restoration–please talk with a member of my staff or email me via our website, www.hsccolorado.com.

A Streaming Success

Providing people coping with hair loss complete and accurate facts on their restoration options is one of my passions.  There’s been so much misinformation–and even disinformation–that getting the truth out so they can make timely decisions is a responsibility I take seriously.

So when Spencer Kobren and I began discussing a live-stream broadcast of the robotic-assisted ARTAS® procedure, it seemed a great way to reach a lot of individuals with a pretty cool “show and tell.”  Even I, however, am a bit humbled by the numbers we did reach.

70,000.

As Spencer posted on his website today: “To date, last Friday’s broadcast is the most viewed live-streamed cosmetic surgery procedure in the history of internet broadcasting. We’re glad that so many of our loyal TBT listeners, viewers and readers were able to drop by.”

I add my appreciation to his.

And if you weren’t able to view it then, here it is:

From HSC: ARTAS procedure streamed (Spencer Kobren/The Bald Truth)

streaming this morning from our HSC offices…

A Webcast You’ll Want to Watch

Those considering hair restoration, interested in FUE and curious about the new robotic-assisted ARTAS™ System will want to mark their calendars for this Friday, October 28. Spencer Kobren–founder of The American Hair Loss Association and The International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons–is hosting a special webcast on the ARTAS. Because Spencer is also one of the nation’s leading communicators regarding hair loss, restoration advances, and the art and science of FUE, I’m particularly pleased to be part of the presentation.  Experience tells me this will be a lively discussion.

The ARTAS, as you may know, is the first—and only—image-guided system for follicular unit (FUE) harvesting. Physician-guided and interactive, it is the next-level option for people seeking FUE hair restoration for male-pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). The system was rigorously reviewed in multiple clinics for more than two years before its introduction and was cleared by the FDA in early 2011.  Patients have an added assurance of safety and comfort, as well, as the system continuously monitors and dynamically compensates for any patient movement in true real-time.

Here are the details:

Date: Friday, October 28, 2011

Time: 10 a.m. (Mountain Standard Time)

Site: www.thebaldtruth.com

New ARTAS trials about to begin

When the initial clinical trials of a new technology go exceedingly well, gearing up for the next series brings an energy all its own. That’s where we are at HSC as October arrives. We’re now accepting candidates for the second trial of the ARTAS robotic-assisted hair restoration system. We’re excited that several will be satisfied “graduates” of the first round eager to progress their personal hair restoration plan. As with the first trials, preferred candidates will be males with short, dark hair.  Should you be interested in knowing more about participating, please email us at information@hsccolorado.com

The ARTAS study to which these trials contribute is ongoing. Having been part of the Restoration Robotics development team that’s brought the technology this far, I’m eager to help explore ways to further advance the system.  We have a number of new features in mind, including some focused on patient comfort and others to make the interface even more physician friendly. In the future, our objective is to expand the ARTAS’ capabilities to not only dissect grafts, but to assist with implantation.

I promise to keep you posted.

The Case of the Bearded Patient

Back in Denver after a very informative and productive few days in Alaska. My presentation on Day 3 of the ISHRS annual meeting was a case study of our clinical results for beard-graft transplants to the scalp. I’m often asked by my male patients if there isn’t some way their beards—which they have no problem growing—can’t be rehomed to their heads, so this is frontier I’ve enjoyed exploring.

The clinical study was based on 4100 total graft transplants, so we had some interesting results and before/after photos to share with that  international contingent.

Far beyond the facts of any single presentation, though, is the patient-focused force driving hair restoration advances.  What works?  What might work better?  How can we merge therapies or techniques to achieve ever-better outcomes?

Curiosity is contagious. And there was a lot of it going around last week in Anchorage.

FUE and New Frontiers

We’re at the midpoint of the The ISHRS Annual Scientific Meeting.  Yesterday’s focus was on FUE, and I presented during the afternoon—The Analysis of the Measured Area of FUE Extraction Donor Zones Utilizing Dissecting Punches of Different Sizes. While the topic may not sound terribly exciting to those of us not in the field, hair restoration surgeons will back me up when I say it’s an essential consideration for optimal outcomes.

And that’s why we’re all here. The best never stop learning, particularly in a field as dynamic as this. The topics on our agenda this week range from the biological—such as breakthroughs in cell therapy—to the technological—including robotic breakthroughs and our own powered SAFE Scribe. Time is dedicated, too, for a thorough discussion of “Difficult and Atypical Cases.”

For surgeons just entering hair restoration as well as those us who have been practicing this specialty for decades, it’s an opportunity to take our skills, our practices and our profession to the next, exciting level.

ARTAS in Alaska

Last evening at the ISHRS Annual Scientific Meeting, I presented a lecture to a group of 40 leading physicians, providing a brief history of the development of the ARTAS hair restoration robot and  my involvement as principal investigator. I shared how the development team incorporated the SAFE System into the device to reduce transection rates significantly.  We discussed the key technological features of the robot, how the physician controls the system, details on system performance and the clinical results we’ve achieved, to date.

It’s an exciting time, as the ARTAS System has the capability to change hair restoration for doctors and patients, alike.

Greetings from Anchorage

It’s Day 1 of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) Annual Scientific Meeting. More than 300 hair restoration surgeons and their clinical assistants from around the world have come to Alaska for four days of discussion, education and exploration.  This is the 19^th such session, and—having been involved in the majority—I can confirm the gathering has never been more global nor more technological in nature.

My time today was spent with co-chair Glenn M. Charles, DO, and several other colleagues, helping prepare our fellow practitioners for the certification/re-certification exams of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery. The written and oral exams are rigorous, critical to assuring the quality that drives great patient outcomes. So along with case scenarios to help participants focus their real-time responses, we reviewed the etiologies of hair loss, anatomy and histology of scalp and hair, medical treatments, donor and recipient area management, cell and gene therapy, anesthesia, and emergency interventions.

Great to be working with such high-caliber candidates.

Dr. Glenn Charles