Follicular Unit Extraction as a Therapeutic Option for Vitiligo
A 12-year-old female patient presented with depigmented macule on the right eyebrow of 8 years duration []. She took various topical and oral medicines for the same without any relief. No new lesions were seen elsewhere in the body and size of the lesions remained stable for the past 2 years. On examination, she had single depigmented macule of the size 2 cm Χ 1.5 cm. Leukotrichia was found to be present. A diagnosis of focal type of vitiligo was made based on the clinical findings. Since the patient did not respond to the medical management, surgical correction with follicular unit transplant using the follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique was suggested. Written informed consent was taken. Donor hairs were harvested from the post auricular region using 1 mm skin biopsy punches. Donor area dressing was done using paraffin gauge dressing. The follicular units thus obtained were transplanted using an 18-G needle in the depigmented macules with 3 mm gap between the follicles. Paraffin gauze dressing was done for the recipient area and the dressing was removed after 5 days. Patient was followed-up every month. Patient was started on topical tacrolimus 2 weeks after the procedure. No post-operative complication was encountered. Repigmentation of the vitiligo patch was seen at the end of 6 weeks and complete pigmentation was seen at 12 weeks, with resolution of leukotrichia at the end of 6 months []. Colour match was excellent. There was no recurrence after 6 months of follow-up.