Punch Graft Versus Follicular Hair Transplantation in the Treatment of Stable Vitiligo
March 2017
in “
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy
”
Studysummary In this study, researchers found that punch grafting was more effective than follicular hair transplantation for treating stable vitiligo; however, follicular hair transplantation was found to be cosmetically preferable for exposed areas like the face due to fewer side effects.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In a 2017 study involving 32 patients with stable vitiligo, researchers compared the effectiveness of punch grafting (PG) and follicular hair transplantation (FG) followed by excimer light therapy. The study found that punch grafting resulted in faster and more extensive repigmentation, with an average onset of 2.5 weeks postoperatively, compared to 5.2 weeks for follicular hair transplantation. However, 90% of patients treated with punch grafting experienced a cobblestone appearance as a complication. In contrast, follicular hair transplantation, which had no reported side effects, was deemed cosmetically preferable, particularly for visible areas such as the face. Despite punch grafting showing a higher percentage of vitiligo improvement, follicular hair transplantation was more effective overall, with 59.4% of patients achieving over 75% improvement, compared to none in the punch grafting group.
