TLDR Removing the outer layer of skin cells from hair grafts does not change the graft survival rate but may improve how it looks right after surgery.
The study "Effect of De-epithelialization on Graft Survival Rate After Follicular Unit Extraction" involved 64 male patients with androgenetic alopecia. The patients were divided into two groups: one underwent de-epithelialization and the other served as a control. The study found no significant difference in hair shaft elongation and the percentage of anagen hair follicles between the two groups. The immediate postoperative satisfaction was higher in the de-epithelialization group (100%) compared to the control group (71.25%). There were no significant differences in shedding rate, graft survival rate, and complications between the two groups. The study concluded that follicular de-epithelialization does not affect the survival rate of the graft in Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), but it may improve immediate postoperative appearance and lead to a more pleasing cosmetic outcome.
5 citations,
November 2019 in “Dermatology and therapy” Beard hair extraction improves scalp hair restoration results in East Asian men with severe hair loss.
44 citations,
June 2018 in “Journal of Cellular Physiology” Researchers developed a 3D model of human hair follicle cells that can help understand hair growth and test new hair loss treatments.
12 citations,
September 2012 in “Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery” Adding de-epithelialization to the follicular isolation technique improves hair transplant results for eyebrows and eyelashes.
300 citations,
August 2012 in “Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology” The conclusion is that certain cell interactions and signals are crucial for hair growth and regeneration.
51 citations,
November 2010 in “Dermatologic Surgery” The research provides specific measurements for hair follicles that can improve hair transplant and regeneration techniques.
43 citations,
October 2003 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Hair transplanting is a useful, often overlooked treatment for female pattern hair loss.
15 citations,
December 2007 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Hair transplantation has improved with techniques that increase graft survival and patient satisfaction for more natural results.
January 2018 in “Springer eBooks” Lasers are less favored for hair transplant surgery but show promise for hair growth in controlled trials.
43 citations,
July 2014 in “Experimental Dermatology” Hair follicles can help wounds heal faster and this knowledge could be used to treat chronic skin ulcers, with a potential use of a special stem cell hydrogel to enhance healing.
2 citations,
June 2021 in “Cosmoderma” Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shows promise in skin and hair treatments but results vary with preparation methods.
35 citations,
January 2020 in “Skin Pharmacology and Physiology” The review concluded that keeping the hair-growing ability of human dermal papilla cells is key for hair development and growth.
