Therapeutic Applications of Hair Follicle Transplantation Beyond Hair Restoration: A Comprehensive Review.

Background: Hair follicle (HF) transplantation, especially through follicular unit excision (FUE), is renowned for treating androgenetic alopecia. Recent advancements have expanded its use in dermatology and plastic surgery.

Objective: This review explores FUE's broader applications beyond hair restoration, including its efficacy in treating chronic ulcers, axillary hyperhidrosis, bromhidrosis, vitiligo, and scar remodeling.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using key medical databases, focusing on clinical research such as randomized controlled trials, retrospective studies, case series, and reports, while excluding review articles and commentaries.

Results: Hair follicle transplantation using the FUE technique has shown significant promise in enhancing healing in chronic ulcers and difficult to heal wounds, with cases demonstrating complete wound healing across various ulcer types. The method of sweat gland removal using FUE micropunches substantially reduced sweating and malodor in patients with axillary hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis. In vitiligo treatment, FUE combined with other therapies showed promising repigmentation results.

Conclusion: Follicular unit excision emerges as a versatile surgical technique demonstrating potential in various conditions beyond alopecia. The minimal complications associated with FUE across various applications highlight its safety profile. Its expanding scope in medical applications calls for further research and clinical trials to optimize its use and understand its full therapeutic potential.