FUE Affordability and Restoration Robotics

Hi Dr. Rassman. I’m 25 and have been following your site for a few years now since my hair started thinning at 22. I’ve been taking finasteride though and it’s kept it at bay…

I have a couple of questions for you if you please:

1) Any chance that FUE can become more affordable soon? Am I right in thinking that a FUE procedure of 2000 grafts would cost over $15,000 nowadays? Any chance it could drop to $10,000 soon?

2) This question is sort of related to the one above – Do you have any updates on the Restoration Robotics FUE procedures? All I know is that there are trials being carried out here. You mentioned before you had granted them use of your license… Have you enquired as to whether they’re seeing any success? Any chance the robotic technique will result in cheaper FUE procedures?

That’s all. I really hope you can answer these questions which have been on my mind (and many others I’m sure) for a while now.

Best Regards

Costs for follicular unit extraction (FUE) will follow a supply/demand formula. Although many physicians perform FUE procedures, the failure rate is very high, so buying 2000 FUE grafts may mean that you purchase the delivery of these grafts, but survival may not follow the delivery because of damage done at the time of extraction. There are many groups working on mechanisms to deliver quality FUE grafts that will not be damaged so that they grow. Many groups have devised better tools and have announced them at the various ISHRS conferences and elsewhere (Drs. Feller, Harris, Boudjema, Cole, and myself).

Restoration Robotics will require FDA clearance before their product can be released for commercial application. The other devices are what the FDA calls Class 1 devices, which do not require FDA approval. I’m not sure of their progress at the present time, nor do I know of any costs, though doctors will still likely set their own pricing. My guess (and I am not privy to any info, so this is entirely speculative) is that the equipment start-up costs will be substantial and like any other product or service, costs will come down at some point in the future when it becomes available to a wider market. How near of a future, I couldn’t tell you. One step at a time.

Note: The image is of a violin-playing robot developed by Toyota. It won’t do hair transplants, but it might play you a song.