A randomized controlled trial on hair follicular-derived microtissue for promoting wound healing and alleviating postoperative complications after hair transplantation

Abstract

BackgroundHair transplantation, particularly through follicular unit extraction (FUE), can lead to postoperative complications such as numbness, itching, and pain in donor areas, primarily due to delayed wound healing. Efficient management of donor-site healing is crucial to mitigate these complications and improve overall patient outcomes. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of Hair Follicular-Derived Microtissue (HFMT) in promoting wound healing and alleviating postoperative complications in donor areas following FUE hair transplantation. MethodsPerifollicular tissue, obtained during the trimming phase of hair transplantation, was processed into HFMT and analyzed for its properties using histological and molecular techniques. In a single-blind, split-scalp study involving 98 participants, Group A received HFMT or Mupirocin, while Group B received HFMT or no treatment. Dermatoscopic images were captured postoperatively, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were used to evaluate pain, itching, and numbness. ResultsHFMT-treated donor sites in Group A demonstrated a significantly higher wound closure ratio on postoperative day 3 compared to Mupirocin-treated sites. Pain scores for HFMT-treated sites were consistently lower on postoperative days 3, 5, and 7. Similar trends were observed for itching scores. Group B exhibited outcomes comparable to Group A. ConclusionThe application of HFMT homogenate effectively accelerated wound healing and alleviated donor site complications following FUE hair transplantation.