Donor Site Healing in Follicular Unit Extraction Hair Transplantation: Current Evidence, Cellular Mechanisms, and Future Research Directions

September 2025 in “ Cellular and Molecular Biology ”

Ney Arencibia Pérez, María José Guerrero Roldán

follicular unit extraction FUE donor site healing corticosteroids postoperative edema inflammation folliculitis platelet-rich plasma PRP hair follicle-derived microtissue HFMT wound healing cellular dynamics molecular pathways steroids

TLDR Intraoperative corticosteroids reduce swelling, and early care lowers folliculitis risk in hair transplant donor sites.

This systematic review examines interventions for donor site healing in follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplantation, focusing on clinical outcomes and cellular mechanisms. Four studies were analyzed, highlighting that intraoperative corticosteroid use reduces postoperative edema by modulating inflammation, and early postoperative care decreases folliculitis incidence. While platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hair follicle-derived microtissue (HFMT) show promise in enhancing wound healing, the data are limited by study heterogeneity. The review emphasizes the need for research on cellular dynamics and molecular pathways in donor area healing to develop evidence-based protocols and improve clinical outcomes.

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