Forget RoboCop, Ziering, a leading medical practice specialising in hair restoration, introduces 'Robograft', the first and only robotic hair restoration procedure to the UK. The ARTAS System, or ‘Robograft’, is a new, physician controlled robotic technology which is set to revolutionise hair transplant surgery in the UK.

This process of hair restoration entails a Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure, which works by transplanting hair from healthy ‘donor’ areas one unit at a time into desired thinning or balding regions. To date, this procedure is done manually by a physician, but is a labour intensive process.

The Robograft procedure from Ziering, while still overseen by a physician – offers greater precision, consistency and speed allowing more time for artistic input. Patients therefore benefit from human expertise, enhanced by technological innovation.

Additional benefits of the ARTAS System include; Minimally invasive procedure with virtually no post-operative discomfort, no linear incision with a scalpel and no linear scarring, ability to wear hair at varying lengths without concern of a linear scar being visible to others and higher quality grafts which enhance transplant survival rates.

With high profile figures such as Wayne Rooney recently benefiting from the FUE procedure, the taboos around hair loss have been challenged, resulting in increased demand for solutions among men and women in the UK. The introduction of the ARTAS System to the UK means that for the first time ever, people in the UK worrying about hair loss will have access to the latest technology and a permanent solution.

Founder and Medical Director, Dr Craig L. Ziering, is an industry pioneer, teacher and author who remains in constant pursuit of seeking and developing new technology, surgical techniques and hair treatment solutions. He said of the launch, “I’m thrilled that Ziering is taking the lead in the field of Robotic Hair Restoration and is the first practice to bring the ARTAS system to Europe. By placing the robot in our London clinic, we are enabling the ARTAS robotic procedure to become a realistic solution for patients suffering with hair loss throughout the United Kingdom.

"My expert team of surgeons at our London clinic are excited about having this groundbreaking ARTAS technology, which provides the best surgical tools in the industry with which to perform procedures. It is an exciting time for our practice and our industry.

"Reported hair restoration procedures among celebrities and high profile individuals can often lead consumers to believe that treatment may be beyond their reach. However a full-range of hair-loss solutions, including surgery, consultation services, laser, medical and non- surgical options; are available for a range of prices at Ziering.”

From £5000 – but it depends on the number of grafts a patient has. Roughly it is £5 per graft and 1000 grafts is the norm. 

www.hairtransplantziering.co.uk

TheChicGeek says "New technology like this that makes it less labour intensive for the surgeon, will result in the price for these operations coming down. Where once it was seen as unaffordable or for people on footballer's salaries, the 'Robograft' and other technology like it, will make the procedure within reach of many more people. Hair transplants will be the new laser eye surgery, what this space".

When Wayne Rooney first had his hair transplant we likened it to lipstick on a pig. But pleasantly surprised by the results, it seemed to be worth every penny of the reported £30,000 he spent. For a man who probably earns that in an afternoon, it was a relative bargain to reinstate a youthful hairline. But what has happened to it? The recent England Euros matches have only highlighted the reemergence of his thinning thatch. Is this the result of too many headers or does this happen to hair transplants after time? TheChicGeek decided to investigate:

Jonny Harris, Managing Director of The Belgravia Centre www.belgraviacentre.com and Hair Loss Expert says “For those who act early enough, there is no need to have a hair transplant in the first place. There are a number of medically proven preventative/regrowth treatments and hair growth boosters that will in most cases stop hair loss. If Rooney would have used the correct treatments when he started to lose his hair, it would never have thinned in the first place.

"These same treatments need to be used following a hair transplant in order to maintain the ‘old’ hair (which is the hair that was still present before the transplant). Those who do not use the correct treatments after a hair transplant might, as in the case of Rooney, lose this ‘old’ hair which will either create bald patches or general thinning. It is likely that the hair Rooney still had is the hair that is still shedding, leading to a thinner appearance in the transplanted area.”

So, there you have it. Rooney hasn’t been taking his supplements or using the correct products. Looking more Bobby Charlton than David Beckham, we just hope he’s reading this after the money he’s spent. 

Above - Rooney could always try the candy-floss-like Trump comb over!

Pictures of a puffy faced Gordon Ramsay surfaced yesterday after spending a reportedly £30,000 on a hair transplant operation. The vain chef who thinks he's god's gift will no doubt pretend it's required for his US television presence. Irish actor James Nesbitt recently admitted spending £7,000 on two hair transplants and Elton John's hair work is one of his best features. Male hair transplants are becoming more common as the procedures offer better results and unlike other forms of plastic surgery it is often difficult to detect.

Thinning hair seems to be the Achilles heel of modern masculinity. Not matter how many times or how many examples we see of good-looking bald men, there are those who still want a full head of hair. Our virile narcissism wont let our follicles go and we are willing to pay through the nose for it.

There could be hope for those without the budget for costly hair grafts, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have recently discovered that skin on the heads of bald men contain as many potential hair cells as their hirstute counterparts. Potentially these could be reawakened, experiments on mice have kick started hair growth.

TheChicGeek's advice is - Whether you're a Clooney or a Willis, sometimes all you need is a good haircut.