Author(s)
Rohith Kariveda, BA
Shoilee Banerjee, BS
and Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD
Affiliation(s)
Boston University School of Medicine (Kariveda); Boston Medical Center (Banerjee and Spiegel);
Abstract:
Background: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair grafting and forehead contouring/scalp advancement are commonly performed in transgender patients as a part of gender-confirming facial feminization surgery. While Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) hair grafting and forehead contouring can be performed concurrently with high efficacy rates for both procedures, FUE has historically not been done within several months of surgery on either the donor or recipient sites.
Learning Objectives: Understand FUE efficacy and satisfaction after forehead contouring.
Study objective: This study was performed to evaluate FUE outcomes when done during the immediate postoperative period (7-14 days) after forehead contouring procedures.
Design Type: Descriptive survey study
Methods: Patients from the senior author’s patient database were included if they had forehead contouring surgery with post-operative FUE hair grafting within 7-14 days. Patients were asked to complete a survey via REDCap and attached photos of their hair grafting site to determine FUE graft efficacy and satisfaction.
Results: Out of 35 eligible participants, 45.7% (n=16) responded to the survey. Half the respondents reported additional medical or psychiatric comorbidities, and 68.75% (n=11) had prior gender-affirming surgeries. On a scale of 1 (worst outcome) to 10 (best outcome), patients rated healing after the procedure at 8.00, rate of growth on the restored area at 6.75, and an average satisfaction with the procedure at 6.31.
Conclusion: Overall, patients reported good wound healing on the graft site, hair growth in the recipient site, and satisfaction. FUE hair grafting can be done after forehead contouring with high efficacy and satisfaction.