Trichophytic donor closure study – ISHRS grant and study completion
At the 2006 International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery annual conference in San Diego, Drs Farjo were awarded a research grant to study two different methods of donor trichophytic closure. This is a multi-centre study with Drs Kolasinski & Kolenza from Poland, Dr Ginzburg from Israel and Dr Ibrahim from Saudi Arabia.
There are different methods of donor closure in use by hair restoration specialists. Recently, there has been a lot of debate and discussion on improving the donor scars in light of the popularity of follicular unit extraction techniques. The trichophytic closure technique is well described in plastic surgery literature. This technique allows hair follicles to grow through the scar and has been used extensively by some plastic surgeons, performing brow and face-lift procedures. The various trichophytic closure methods that have been proposed by different hair restoration surgeons have not been the subject of a blinded study. Only anecdotal evidence of scar improvement so far has been presented at scientific meetings and workshops, and in literature. There are two methods that appear to be the most commonly advocated so it is reasonable to make comparisons of these techniques in a more scientific manner to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in outcome.
The results of the study were presented at the 15th Annual Scientific Meeting of the ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery) at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas in September 2007. Dr Farjo also presented it in Orlando in April 2008 at the Annual Live Surgery Workshop there. It will also be published in peer review journals.
In essence, the study demonstrated that trimming the lower edge of the wound, rather than the upper edge, is more likely to result in a better cosmetic appearance of the donor scar on the back of the scalp.