The Effect of One Session Low Level Laser Therapy of Extracted Follicular Units on the Outcome of Hair Transplantation
Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences,
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2016),
26 Bahman 2016
,
Page 26-29
Abstract
Introduction: Photobiostimulation with low level laser (LLL) has been used in medicine for a long time and its effects have been shown in many diseases. Some studies have evaluated the effect of LLL on androgenic alopecia. One of the most important limitations of the use of LLL in the treatment of alopecia is the requirement for multiple sessions, which is hardly accepted by patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the irradiation of extracted follicular hair units by LLL on the outcome of hair transplantation.
Methods: We enrolled 10 patients with androgenic alopecia and after screening tests for infections and other diseases, we extracted hair follicular units. The hair units were divided in two groups. One group was irradiated by LLL 20 minutes before transplantation (660 nm, 80 Hz, 100 mW) and the other one was used as control. The containing plates were labeled as A and B and sent to the operation room. The surgeon was unaware of the therapy assigned to the plates and transplanted them randomly on the right or left side of the head. One hundred follicular units on each sides of the scalp were transplanted symmetrically. The follicles on both sides were evaluated at 3 and 6 months of transplantation for hair growth rate by another physician, blinded to the treatment assigned to each side.
Results: Ten patient with androgenic alopecia and mean (SD) age of 31.5 (6.6) years (range 25-45 years) completed the study. All patients had 100% hair growth at 3 and 6 months follow-up except one who had hair growth of 20% at three months of transplantation, which changed to 100% at sixth months. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding hair growth (P > 0.8).
Conclusion: One session of LLL irradiation has no significant effect on the outcome of transplanted hair follicles. Studies with larger sample size are needed to draw a definite conclusion.
- Laser Therapy
- Low Level
- Hair Follicle
- Transplantation
How to Cite
References
Singh G. Androgenic alopecia. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2002;68(1):40.
Schindl A, Schindl M, Pernerstorfer-Schon H, Schindl L. Low-intensity laser therapy: a review. J Investig Med. 2000;48(5):312-326.
Vladimirov YA, Osipov AN, Klebanov GI. Photobiological principles of therapeutic applications of laser radiation. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2004;69(1):81-90.
Rangwala S, Rashid RM. Alopecia: a review of laser and light therapies. Dermatol Online J. 2012;18(2):3.
Leavitt M, Charles G, Heyman E, Michaels D. HairMax LaserComb laser phototherapy device in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia: A randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled, multicentre trial. Clin Drug Investig. 2009;29(5):283-92. doi:10.2165/00044011- 200929050-00001.
Ghanaat M. Types of hair loss and treatment options,including the novel low level light therapy and its proposed mechanism. South Med J. 2010;103(9):917-21. doi:10.1097/ SMJ.0b013e3181ebcf71.
7. Avci P, Gupta GK, Clark J, Wikonkal N, Hamblin MR. low level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) for treatment of hair loss. Lasers Surg Med. 2014;46(2):144-51. doi:10.1002/ lsm.22170.
8. Jimenez JJ, Wikramanayake TC, Bergfeld W, et al. Efficacy and safety of a low level laser device in the treatment of male and female pattern hair loss: a multicenter, randomized, sham device-controlled, double-blind study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2014;15(2):115-127. doi:10.1007/s40257-013- 0060-6.
9. Mester E, Szende B, Gartner P. The effect of laser beams on the growth of hair in mice (In German). Radiobiol Radiother (Berl). 1968;9(5):621-626.
10. Wikramanayake TC, Villasante AC, Mauro LM, et al. Low level laser treatment accelerated hair regrowth in a rat model of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). Lasers Med Sci. 2013;28(3):701-706. doi:10.1007/s10103-012- 1139-7.
11. Avram MR, Rogers NE. The use of low level light for hair growth: part I. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2009;11(2):110-117.
12. Desai S, Mahmoud BH, Bhatia AC, Hamzavi IH. Paradoxical hypertrichosis after laser therapy: a review. Dermatol Surg. 2010;36(3):291-298. PubMed PMID: 20100274. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2009.01433.x.
13. Moreno-Arias G, Castelo-Branco C, Ferrando J. Paradoxical effect after IPL photoepilation. Dermatol Surg. 2002;28(11):1013-1016.
14. Bernstein EF. Hair growth induced by diode laser treatment. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(5):584-586.
15. Satino JL, Markou M. Hair regrowth and increased hair tensile strength using the Hair Max Laser Comb for low level laser therapy. Int J Cosmet Surg Aesthc Dermatol. 2003;5(2):113-117.
- Abstract Viewed: 840 times
- PDF Downloaded: 470 times