Recipient area folliculitis after follicular-unit transplantation: characterization of clinical features and analysis of associated factors.

BACKGROUND

Postoperative recipient-area folliculitis may be a cause of less or delayed growth of transplanted hair and an obvious cause of distress to the patient. No study has been done to elaborate on its clinical features and assess possible factors that may correlate with its occurrence.

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical features and possible factors that may be associated with the development of recipient-area folliculitis after follicular-unit transplantation (FUT).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 27 patients who developed folliculitis after FUT and 28 patients without such complication.

RESULTS

Lesion onset ranged from 2 days to 6 months after FUT (mean 1.44 months). Lesions were mostly pustules that resolved without sequela. Statistical analysis showed that, in terms of patient characteristics (e.g., hair features, scalp condition) and the number of grafts transplanted, there was no statistically significant difference in assessed parameters between those with and without folliculitis (p<.05).

CONCLUSION

Main clinical features of postoperative folliculitis consist mostly of few to moderate self-limited pustules. In this study, regardless of management, lesions healed without scarring and without affecting graft growth. Neither patient characteristics nor number of grafts transplanted was associated with this complication.