Effects of Needle Assisted Radiofrequency Ablation on Human Eyelashes and Eyelids: A Histopathological and Morphometric Study.

Purpose: To analyze the histopathological changes in eyelash following electroepilation using radiofrequency (RF) cautery.

Methods: RF current was applied to the eyelash root in human eyelids (from exenteration or eyelid shortening procedures) at a pre-determined depth of 3 mm excision a-priori, and processed for routine histology. Studied parameters were the extent of necrosis, involvement of the eyelash bulb, and type of bulb damage (partial or whole necrosis). Also, seven patients of chronic cicatrizing conjunctivitis with trichiasis ( = 4) and distichiasis ( = 3) underwent electroepilation using the above RF protocol.

Results: Twelve eyelid specimens of seven patients (mean age 40 years; five upper eyelid and seven lower eyelid) were evaluated histologically. Majority of specimens (92%) showed coagulative necrosis in the eyelash bulb, follicle, orbicularis oculi, adjacent nerves, and blood vessels. The mean depth of necrosis was 2.12 ± 0.63 mm. Of 12, eleven eyelash bulbs showed necrotic changes with only partial bulb involvement in 55% of eyelids. The horizontal extent of coagulative necrosis was not uniform across the lash track, and the majority showed a wider area of damage in the lower segment. Of seven, all patients with trichiasis (4/4) showed no recurrence of lash misdirection whereas 66% of distichiasis patients (2/3) showed recurrent lash growth with one sitting of electroepilation applied at 3 mm.

Conclusions: Electroepilation guided by RF current produces variable necrotic changes in the eyelash root, leaving portions of intact bulbs in half of the eyelids.