Alternative Method for Creating Fine Hairs with Hair Removal Laser in Hair Transplantation for Hairline Correction

BACKGROUND: Foremost fine hairs in the frontal hairline region are critical in hair transplantation for hairline correction (HTHC) in women. However, there are few studies on a nonsurgical revisionary method for improving an unnatural foremost hairline with thick donor hairs resulting from a previous HTHC. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of using a hair removal laser (HRL) system to create fine hairs in Asian women with thick donor hairs. METHODS: Through a retrospective chart review, the HRL parameters, hair diameter (measured with a micrometer before and after the procedures), subjective results after the procedures, adverse effects, and the number of procedures were investigated. The reduction rate of the hair diameter was calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-four women who received long-pulse Neodymium-Doped:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet therapy after HTHC were included. The parameters were as follows: delivered laser energy, 35~36 J/cm2; pulse duration, 6 ms; and spot size, 10 mm. The mean number of laser sessions was 2.6. The mean hair diameter significantly decreased from 80.0+/-11.5 microm to 58.4+/-13.2 microm (p=0.00). The mean rate of hair diameter reduction was -25.7% (range, -44.6% to 5.7%). The number of laser sessions and the hair diameter after the procedures showed a negative correlation (r=-0.410, p=0.046). Most of the patients (87.5%) reported subjective improvement of their hairlines. Most complications were transient and mild. CONCLUSION: HRL can be an alternative method for creating fine hairs and revising foremost hairline in Asian women with thick donor hairs.

Paracrine Effects of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells on Keratinocytes and Dermal Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are mesenchymal stem cells that have recently been applied to tissue repair and regeneration. Keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts play key roles in cutaneous wound healing. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the paracrine effects of ASCs on HaCaT cells (i.e., immortalized human keratinocytes) and human dermal fibroblasts to explore the mechanism of the effects of ASCs on cutaneous wound healing. METHODS: HaCaT cells and primary cultured human dermal fibroblasts were treated with 50% conditioned medium of ASCs (ASC-CM). Viability, in vitro wound healing, and fibroblast-populated collagen lattice contraction assays were conducted, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the type I procollagen alpha1 chain gene was performed. RESULTS: The proliferation of HaCaT cells and fibroblasts was increased by ASC-CM in the viability assay. ASC-CM promoted in vitro wound healing of HaCaT cells and increased the contraction of the fibroblast-populated collagen lattice. RT-PCR showed that the transcription of the type I procollagen alpha1 chain gene in fibroblasts was upregulated by ASC-CM. CONCLUSION: The stimulatory effect of ASC on cutaneous wound healing may be partially mediated by paracrine effects of ASCs on other skin cells. Application of ASCs or ASC-derived molecules could be an innovative therapeutic approach in the treatment of chronic wounds and other conditions.