Does the trichophytic technique have any role in facial wound closure? A hypothesis.

摘要

The trichophytic closure technique is more widely used in wound closure at donor area in hair-transplant surgery. This results in the formation of a very fine scar. The trichophytic closure involves the tangential excision of the upper or lower wound margin to about 1 mm. Hair grows and this results in the breaking of a linear scar into multiple, tiny portions, thus preventing a line effect (Figure 1). This technique was initially used in the early era of hair-restoration surgery, especially in insetting a flap to the forehead skin. A hypothesis has been proposed regarding whether this trichophytic closure technique should be used in the closure of facial wounds over hair-bearing areas in males. The justification for this hypothesis is that it may result in an improved scar due to the breakage of a linear scar, with hair existing throughout the scar. Furthermore, there arises a question whether this technique can be extended to the closure of wounds, especially in flap insetting in reconstruction procedures on other hair-bearing body areas.