Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39455457›Full record

ArticleAesthetic plastic surgery2025

Follicular Unit Excision Hair Removal of Unwanted Facial Terminal Hair in Five Facial Areas: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Zhen Liu, Yi Zhou, Zhexiang Fan, Jiaxian Zhang, Chunfang Xiao, Hua Xian, Zhiqi Hu, Yong Miao

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Clinical Applications of Punch-Based Techniques in Dermatologic Surgery.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Zhen LiuDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
Yi ZhouCenter for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, Zhejiang Province, China.
Zhexiang FanDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
Jiaxian ZhangDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
Chunfang XiaoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
Hua XianDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510095, Guangdong Province, China. xhua1978@163.com.
Zhiqi HuDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China. huzhiqidr163@i.smu.edu.cn.
Yong MiaoDepartment of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China. miaoyong123@i.smu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-4254-0673

Funding

Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research Fund Project A2022090Guangdong Province Health Appropriate Technology Promotion Project 202303172037321413National Natural Science Foundation of China 82372538Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province 2023A1515012827
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundConventional epilation methods commonly encounter challenges in achieving permanent removal of unwanted facial terminal hair (uFTH), particularly when it is interspersed among normal hairs.

objectiveTo assess the safety and effectiveness of follicular unit excision (FUE) for permanent removal of uFTH.

methodsThe retrospective analysis included 231 patients who underwent FUE hair removal at three medical centers. uFTH in five facial areas was excised and assessed for follicular integrity. Surgical details, complications, in situ hair regrowth, and patient satisfaction were recorded and analyzed.

resultsScattered uFTH was excised using a fine punch (inner diameter, 0.6~0.7 mm) at a rate of 18.0~23.6 units per minute in five facial areas. The procedure yielded a low transection rate of only 6.2% (median), minimizing in situ hair regeneration and facilitating the intact harvesting of hair follicles for transplantation. Most sites exhibited optimal wound healing without visible scarring. The overall complication rate is 26.3%, with folliculitis accounting for 3%. Overall satisfaction was significantly high, reaching 96.6%.

conclusionFUE technique is a precise and effective potential approach for uFTH permanent removal in facial areas. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors   www.springer.com/00266 .

Indexed as

Hair FollicleHair RemovalAdolescentAdultCohort StudiesEstheticsFaceFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionRetrospective StudiesRisk AssessmentTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultFollicular unit excisionHairHair follicleHair removalHair transplantation

Identifiers

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.