Histocompatibility and Long-Term Results of the Follicular Unit-Like Wigs after Xenogeneic Hair Transplantation: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

Objective. This study was designed to observe the histocompatibility and long-term results of wigs after xenogeneic hair transplantation and to explore the possibility of industrial products in clinical application. Methods. The human hair and melted medical polypropylene were preceded into the follicular unit-like wigs according to the natural follicular unit by extrusion molding. 12 New Zealand rabbits were used as experimental animals for wigs transplantation. The histocompatibility of polypropylene and human hair was observed by H&E staining and scanning electron microscope. The loss rate of wigs was calculated to evaluate the long-term result after transplantation. Results. Mild infiltration by inflammatory cells around the polypropylene and human hair were seen during the early period after transplantation, accompanied with local epithelial cell proliferation. The inflammatory cells were decreased after 30 days with increased collagen fibers around the polypropylene and human hair. The follicular unit-like wigs maintained a good histocompatibility in one year. The degradation of hair was not significant. The loss rate of wigs was 4.1 ± 4.0% in one year. The appearance of hair was satisfactory. Conclusions. We successfully developed a follicular unit-like wigs, which were made of xenogeneic human hair with medical polypropylene, showing a good histocompatibility, a low loss rate, and satisfactory appearance in a year after transplantation. The follicular unit-like wigs may have prospective industrial products in clinical application.