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Case Series | Dermatology | Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026 | Pages: 1680 - 1685 | India
Follicular Unit Extraction for Hair Restoration in Stable Cicatricial Alopecia: Surgical Planning and Clinical Outcomes-A Case Series
Abstract: Hair transplantation in cicatricial alopecia has traditionally been considered challenging because of fibrosis, reduced vascularity, and the potential for poor graft survival. However, advances in Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), together with careful patient selection and meticulous surgical planning, have expanded the role of hair transplantation in patients with stable cicatricial alopecia. This study presents a case series highlighting technical considerations and clinical outcomes following FUE in diverse etiologies of cicatricial alopecia. Five patients with clinically stable cicatricial alopecia underwent FUE hair transplantation after comprehensive clinical evaluation and counseling. Recipient-site assessment focused on scar maturity, tissue pliability, vascularity, and disease stability. Grafts harvested from the occipital donor area were implanted at conservative densities (approximately 20 follicular units/cm2) to optimize vascular perfusion and graft survival. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months for graft survival, hair growth, cosmetic outcome, and disease recurrence. A total of 16,700 follicular unit grafts were transplanted across the five patients. All patients experienced uneventful postoperative recovery with satisfactory graft survival and progressive hair regrowth during follow-up. Significant improvement in scalp coverage, frontal hairline transplantation, and scar camouflage was achieved, resulting in enhanced aesthetic appearance and high patient satisfaction. These cases demonstrate that favorable aesthetic and functional outcomes can be achieved in both secondary cicatricial alopecia and stable primary cicatricial alopecia when appropriate surgical principles are followed.
Keywords: Traction alopecia, Follicular Unit Extraction, Female hair transplant, Scarring alopecia, Cicatricial alopecia, Hair transplantation surgery, Frontal alopecia
How to Cite?: Dr. Neha Mehta, Dr. Sumit Sharma, Dr. Mona Sharma, Dr. Abhinav Bansal, Dr. Chinmai Yadav, "Follicular Unit Extraction for Hair Restoration in Stable Cicatricial Alopecia: Surgical Planning and Clinical Outcomes-A Case Series", Volume 15 Issue 9, September 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1680-1685, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26925114057, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26925114057