|
Hair Sciences Center of Colorado - FUE - Learn More
Questions & Answers:
The Harris Safe System & Harris Safe Scribe
- How is this system different than traditional FUE?
- This new, proprietary methodology and product improves upon the shortcomings of the current Follicular Unit Extraction methodology in several ways. Specifically, it reduces transection rates, increases the patient base, as virtually everyone becomes a candidate when using this system, and is more efficient and potentially less expensive.
- What do you mean by "minimally invasive?"
- This type of surgery is termed "minimally invasive" because there is no donor strip of hair that must be surgically removed from the back of the head. This reduces pain, scarring and healing time.
- Who is a candidate for this technique?
- Virtually 100% of patients are candidates, including African Americans and patients with gray hair. African American and gray haired men and women have previously not been good candidates because of statistically higher transection rates. They may realize better growth rates with this system.
- What are the patient benefits?
- There are several significant benefits for patients, including: reduced scarring and healing time, less pain, virtually 100% of people are candidates, there is more donor hair available, more natural-looking hair lines are possible, and both African American and gray haired patients, who have traditionally had high transection rates, become good candidates.
- What are the physician benefits?
- There are also significant benefits to hair replacement surgeons, including: minimal transection rates, the ability to do precise graft planning, the option to reduce reliance on a large surgical team and technical equipment (i.e. microscopes for graft dissection), and a decrease in the price per graft, which broadens the potential market for candidates.
- How many grafts can you do in a single day?
- The Harris SAFE System and Scribe enables FUE practitioners to significantly increase the number of grafts being transplanted from approximately 300-400 per day to potentially several thousand grafts in a single day. This is significantly more than traditional FUE normally allows.
- When will the Harris SAFE System be available to the general public?
- Patients interested in The Harris SAFE System should contact the Hair Sciences Center of Colorado at 303.694.9381, or visit our web site at www.hsccolorado.com to arrange a consultation. The procedure should be available to the general public in September 2004.
- How many of these surgeries have you performed?
- There is currently a study underway on this methodology and device that will show data from approximately 25 patients. Dr. James Harris has conducted each of these surgeries.
- What do your results indicate?
- Preliminary results of the study indicate that the Harris SAFE System and Harris SAFE Scribe will change the field of hair restoration - making it more efficient and more accessible, with extraordinary, natural-looking results.
- Why are you saying this is such a breakthrough in hair replacement technology?
- There are three main reasons the Harris SAFE System and the Harris SAFE Scribe have the potential to change the field of hair restoration, and the practice of follicular unit extraction, specifically. The first is increased accessibility. With traditional FUE only about 30% of patients were candidates. The Harris System works for virtually 100% of patients. The Harris SAFE System and Scribe also offer patients a minimally invasive option in hair restoration surgery, which means less pain, less healing time and less scarring. Finally, the results are the best a patient can hope for - natural and undetectable because the practitioner can use the finer hairs around the nape of the neck, and choose single or multiple hair follicular units for transplantation.
Cost
- How much will this cost?
- Until the advantages of scale and experience are realized, the price is somewhat higher than traditional FUHT.
- What are the cost differences between this and surgery such as FUHT?
- At this time the cost of this surgery is approximately 50% higher than traditional FUHT.
Background
- Is anyone else using this device / system? Why not?
- The Harris SAFE System and Harris SAFE Scribe were created and patented by Dr. James Harris of the Hair Sciences Center of Colorado. Currently Dr. Harris is the only surgeon in the country - and the world - offering patients this revolutionary development.
- How did you think of this?
- I was seeing more and more patients interested in FUE who were not good candidates for the procedure. I recognized the need for a more efficient way to offer patients the benefits of FUE - reduced scarring, pain and healing time, without the negatives of being so expensive and time-consuming. In studying the problem and the current methodology, I was able to create a prototype of the Harris SAFE Scribe and see that it does in fact achieve our desired results without the negative side effects.
- How did you come up with the name?
- The "SAFE" in the Harris SAFE System and Harris SAFE Scribe stands for Surgically Advanced Follicular Extraction, which is an exact description of this breakthrough technology. The System describes the methodology Dr. Harris developed, and the Scribe is the actual tool that Dr. Harris uses to perform the surgery.
- How does the device work?
- The Harris SAFE System enables the practitioner to isolate, excise and remove single follicular units with one to five hairs without the need to remove a donor strip and without the potential trauma to the follicles associated with traditional FUE. Instead, the physician or trained technician employs a small, self-contained device, the Harris SAFE Scribe, for precise follicular extraction without unnecessary follicular dissection and the resulting trauma to the hair follicles.
- Is this system and tool patented?
- Yes. A provisional patent for the methodology and the tool was secured in April 2004. Final patent approval is expected in late 2004 or early 2005.
|
|
|
