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Dermatologic Microsutures Using Human Hair: A Useful Technique in Cutaneous Stitching
Mohammed Al Azrak1, Rei Ogawa2
1Burn & Plastic Surgery Unit, Surgery Department, Fayoum General Hospital, Fayoum, Egypt.
Eplasty
|September 15, 2017
Summary
Autologous hair can be used as a low-cost suture for facial wounds, yielding excellent aesthetic outcomes with minimal scarring. This innovative technique is suitable for various settings, including resource-limited environments and battlefield conditions.
Area of Science:
- Dermatologic surgery
- Wound healing
- Aesthetic outcomes
Background:
- Traumatic facial wounds pose challenges for dermatologic surgeons due to the risk of disfiguring scars.
- Effective wound closure requires narrow needles and sutures.
- Hair filaments, with their small diameter, present a potential alternative for facial wound suturing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the aesthetic results of using autologous hair as suture material for traumatic facial wounds.
Main Methods:
- A case series of female patients with traumatic facial wounds treated between 2009 and 2016.
- Autologous hair was prepared using an insulin needle and micro-instruments for wound stitching.
- Aesthetic outcomes were assessed post-procedure.
Main Results:
- Fifty-six traumatic facial wounds in 54 female patients were treated.
- Suturing with autologous hair resulted in good edge coaptation, favorable healing, and excellent aesthetic outcomes.
- Scars were often barely visible, with no detected suture marks or cutaneous reactions.
Conclusions:
- Autologous hair is a viable and cost-effective suture material for facial wound closure.
- This method is particularly suitable for settings with limited resources and for battlefield applications.
- The technique offers excellent aesthetic results, minimizing visible scarring.
