Korean J Dermatol.  2022 Jan;60(1):61-63.

A Case of Treatment-Refractory Foreign Body Reaction after Autologous Hair Transplantation

• Son JH
• Lee JH

Abstract

Complications in autologous hair transplantation are rare, with minor complications that can follow any surgical intervention. A 37-year-old female presented with pruritic, solitary, 0.6-cm-sized, skin-colored nodule on the forehead at one month after autologous hair transplantation. Histopathological findings revealed diffuse dermal granulomatous reactions with multinucleated giant cells, histiocytes, and lymphocytes around the implanted hair follicles, suggestive of foreign body reaction. The patient was treated with 3 courses of 2.5 mg/mL triamcinolone intralesional injections at 4-week intervals. Despite treatment, the lesion remained, and a novel lesion appeared near the existing lesion. Total punch removal of the lesions was performed, and the lesions resolved without recurrence for 6 weeks. A foreign body reaction in hair transplantation surgery is thought to be a rare complication after implantation of the patient’s hair has replaced synthetic fibers. Herein, we report a case of foreign body reaction caused by hair transplantation treated with total removal of the lesion.

Keyword

Alopecia; Foreign-body reaction; Postoperative complications