Postburns hair restoration of eyebrow, eyelash, moustache, beard and scalp areas

Abstract

Background: Burn patients require reconstruction of facial esthetics to return back to social life. Postburn hair restoration improves appearance and quality of life. Aim: The current study was aimed to review postburn hair restoration for eyebrow, eyelash, moustache, beard, scalp hair, frontal hairline and side locks over past 5 years in 86 cases with a 9 months to 5 years follow-up. Materials and methods: For a regular hair transplant surgeon, follicular unit extraction using 0.9 mm motorized punches is the preferred technique. For occasional hair transplant surgery, follicular unit transplant strip and suturing is recommended, where follicles are dissected from a 1.2 cm wide × 6-15 cm scalp strip harvested at the level of the occipital protuberance. Each follicular unit serves as a skin micro graft placed 2-4 mm apart. Patients require 2-3 sittings spaced 8-10 months apart. Results: Hair growth in the postburn hair transplants is delayed, it begins 5-6 months after the transplant. All the hair grafts do not commence growth together and complete result is seen after 10 months. Patients with eyebrow and mustache restoration are most satisfied. Conclusion: Follicular unit micro grafting can be used for restoration of eyebrows, eyelashes, moustache, beard, side burns, hairlines or scalp hair.