Characterization and Risk Factors of Folliculitis after Hair Transplantation: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Postoperative folliculitis is a common complication of hair transplantation (HT) requiring effective preventive interventions. This study characterized postoperative folliculitis and determined risk factors in patients undergoing HT.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 1317 patients who underwent HT and completed 9-month follow-up between January of 2018 and June of 2021 at 4 medical centers. The incidence of postoperative folliculitis and demographic characteristics were assessed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors, and the characteristics of different types of folliculitis were compared.

Results: The overall incidence of postoperative folliculitis was 12.11%, and clinical characteristics varied among the different types of folliculitis. Surgery in summer (OR, 1.772 [95% CI, 1.05 to 2.992]), number of transplant grafts 4000 or greater (OR, 4.818 [95% CI, 1.45 to 16.014]), transplant density greater than 45 grafts/cm 2 (OR, 2.152 [95% CI, 1.376 to 3.367]), and first nursing time greater than 3 days (OR, 1.555 [95% CI, 1.088 to 2.223]) were the main risk factors for postoperative folliculitis.

Conclusions: Postoperative folliculitis after HT presents different characteristics. Surgical factors and postoperative nursing care were demonstrated to be related to folliculitis. The authors propose a preventive folliculitis model based on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors.

Clinical question/level of evidence: Risk, III.