The Role of Hair Restoration Surgery in Primary Cicatricial Alopecia

Primary scarring alopecias are a group of inflammatory conditions in which the main target of the inflammation is the hair follicle. They represent up to 7.3% of the hair loss cases presenting to specialty hair clinics. They are poorly understood, their pathogeneses are mostly unknown and their management is guided at best by the results of small case series and expert opinions. These alopecias are frequently referred to as a trichologic emergency as their progression can be rapid and the hair loss they induce is permanent. In view of the suboptimal solutions offered by the pharmacological treatments available and the significant emotional distress caused by these conditions, it is only normal for patients with scarring alopecias and their treating physicians alike to explore the prospects of surgical correction. This review attempts to summarize what is known about hair restoration surgery in scarring alopecia.