Welcome to California’s Bay Area: Second in Size, but First in Innovation

When people think of large California cities, the two that stand out are Los Angeles and our San Francisco Bay Area.  L.A. comes first as the largest, with a whopping population of almost 13 million people spanning from Los Angeles to Long Beach to Anaheim. 

Our nine-county Bay Area only has a population of around 7.5 million. 

Los Angeles may be larger than the Bay Area, but Silicon Valley is the leader when it comes to technological breakthroughs.  In fact, Fuse.org (https://fuse.org/projects/san-francisco-as-the-innovation-capital-of-the-world/) calls San Francisco the “innovation Capital of the world.” And we can understand why!  Our own SVHI clinic was founded and managed by a hair transplant innovator, Dr. Miguel Canales. 

Dr. Canales worked to develop one of the first cutting-edge hair surgery systems, the ARTAS hair transplant robot.  ARTAS is a robotic surgical partner to assist in hair transplant surgery from beginning to end.  Here’s a quick video of what the ARTAS system can accomplish; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-UtRB9uX_o/.  

When Bay Area locals are looking for surgery with ARTAS robots, they speak to the O.G.

Dr. Canales is the original surgeon for Bay Area robotic hair transplant surgery.  He spent several years helping to create the next-level technology for hair loss surgery.  Then, he traveled the globe to teach other medical professionals how to use it.  This includes dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and hair restoration surgeons.  His name is also on eleven patents that are the foundation for robotic hair transplantation.  It is said when someone needs critical surgery, you want to find a doctor who teaches others how to do it.  And that is Dr. Miguel Canales! 

One of the most important components for starting the path to hair loss surgery is communication. Dr. Canales and his team appreciate the importance of transparency and understanding. That’s why the first step is listening to a person’s needs and confirming what is possible. The process begins by scheduling a meeting with Dr. Canales for a consultation. He will listen to concerns and provide a thorough inspection of the hair and scalp. If the agreement is to proceed, the 3D pre-operative planning can begin. This is where the surgeon maps out the extraction and transplantation areas and plans the surgical process. Before scheduling the surgery, Dr. Canales will provide a complete overview and 3D visual of the planned outcome. 

Innovation also changes long-term hair transplant results

The ARTAS robot hasn’t only changed the surgical process for hair loss but dramatically helped improve the results.  The system’s analytical features can intelligently select the best donor hair follicles from the back of the head strand by strand.  When the donor hair sequence is complete and after recovery, the area looks like it was never touched.  In the past, surgeons used a “strip doner” method which would involve cutting an entire strip of hair and skin from the back of the head.  Then the surgeon would have to pick out the best donor follicles.  And patients would have a noticeable scar to try and hide for the rest of their lives.  Now, with the robotic device, the hair looks the same in the back and on top of the head (or wherever the donor’s hair needs to go). 

The pain threshold during and after surgery is very minimal. There will be a little swelling for the first day while the head adjusts to the changes. Most of our patients can go right back to their daily routine within a few days. Remember, even though recovery is short, you still had “surgery” and your body requires the time to recover. So don’t plan any skydiving or hectic meeting schedules right afterward. 

One of the easiest things about having your hair surgery managed by a cutting-edge surgeon is it’s simple to locate him. Dr. Canales has a clinic located in Foster City which is a quick drive to the middle of the San Francisco Peninsula.  Bay Area ARTAS Robots have an advantage over Los Angeles.  The original innovator of the technology is also the best hair transplant surgeon!