Can an "Aesthetic" Intervention (Braided Hair Coil) Cause Hair Loss After an Aesthetic Operation?
Postoperative pressure alopecia (PPA), defined as hair loss caused by prolonged pressure on the patient's scalp during surgery, is an uncommon condition after aesthetic surgery. Originally, it was described for patients who underwent lengthy cardiovascular and gynecologic operations. The authors present a rare case, in which hair loss occurred after secondary breast augmentation (replacement of breast implants). The PPA appeared in the occipitoparietal region of the patient's scalp approximately 2 weeks after surgery. The operation was completed in less than 3 hours, without any fluctuations in the patient's blood pressure or any unusual blood loss. There were no other precipitating factors such as anemia or coagulopathies. The probable cause of this unexpected result was the patient's braided hair coil, which had not been noted before the operation. The patient habitually, and on the day of her operation, combed her hair into a braided coil, which placed extra pressure on the occipitoparietal region. The hair loss was temporary, and hair regrowth was complete within 2 months. This incident may have been avoided if the braided hair coil had been noted by nursing or other medical staff preoperatively. Repositioning the head every 30 minutes and providing adequate head padding during surgery are advised to protect the patient and prevent such incidents.


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Dr Dionyssopoulos is an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery, General Hospital "Papageorgiou," Thessaloniki, Greece adionys@auth.gr.
Alexander
A
Dionyssopoulos
Dr Papaconstantinou is a consultant in plastic surgery, General Hospital "Papageorgiou," Thessaloniki, Greece.
Antony
A
Papaconstantinou
Dr Stoltidou is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Alexandra
A
Stoltidou
Dr Spyropoulou is a lecturer in plastic surgery in the Department of Plastic Surgery, General Hospital "Papageorgiou," Thessaloniki, Greece.
Georgia-Alexandra
GA
Spyropoulou
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019928:Breast Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
braided hair coil; breast augmentation; hair loss; postoperative pressure alopecia; temporary alopecia