Reshaping the eyebrow by follicular unit transplantation from excised eyebrow in extended infrabrow excision blepharoplasty

• Main Authors: Ichinose A, Kakizaki H, Sugimoto I, Konishi K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2012-02-01
• Series: Clinical Ophthalmology
• Online Access: http://www.dovepress.com/reshaping-the-eyebrow-by-follicular-unit-transplantation-from-excised--a9255
• ISSN: 1177-5467; 1177-5483

Kazuhito Konishi1, Isao Sugimoto2, Hirohiko Kakizaki3, Akihiro Ichinose41Kobe Academia Clinic, 2Division of Aesthetic Medical Science, Department of Plastic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 3Department of Ophthalmology, Aichi Medical University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; 4Department of Plastic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, JapanPurpose: We report the reshaping of the eyebrow by follicular unit transplantation from excised eyebrow skin in extended infrabrow excision blepharoplasty.Methods: The method was carried out in two patients with moderate or significant dermatochalasis. The areas to be excised from the infrabrow and intrabrow skin were decided upon and the area of hair transplantation was planned in the suprabrow area and the tail of the eyebrow. The skin was removed and the excised intrabrow skin was dissected into single follicular units. Tiny incisions were made with a scalpel, and grafts were inserted using fine forceps.Results: Almost all transplanted eyebrow follicles took successfully, resulting in eyebrows of a desirable shape as planned preoperatively. The reshaped eyebrows had a natural appearance since the transplanted hairs were similar to those of the original eyebrow. The eyelids still looked youthful rather than operated-on. Finally, the evidence of blepharoplasty was hardly visible and patient satisfaction was quite high. The patients felt more ease in opening their eyes and obtained a wider visual field.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated excellent results with hair transplantation from eyebrow to eyebrow, a finding which, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported. Our method can be used for selected patients, especially men, with moderate to severe dermatochalasis, who find a reduction or change in the shape of the eyebrow unacceptable.Keywords: blepharoplasty, dermatochalasis, follicular unit transplantation, eyebrow reconstruction