5-Fluorouracil in Facial Plastic Surgery: Indications, Efficacy, and Safety – A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Ahmad Bogari; Mohammed Jomah; Naif Alshehri; Hamad F. Alrabiah; Abdullah Binghaith; Khalid AlOsaimi; Lulu Aldhwaihy; Alaa Baghazal; Hassan Bogari

doi:10.1055/a-2541-2644

Facial Plastic Surgery, Inhaltsverzeichnis

Facial Plast Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2541-2644

Original Research

5-Fluorouracil in Facial Plastic Surgery: Indications, Efficacy, and Safety – A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Autoren

Ahmad Bogari

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery Unit, King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Jomah

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery Unit, King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Naif Alshehri

²College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Hamad F. Alrabiah

²College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Binghaith

²College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Khalid AlOsaimi

²College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Lulu Aldhwaihy

³Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh, Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Alaa Baghazal

⁴Department of Ophthalmology, AlSalamah Hospital, Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
Hassan Bogari

⁵College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite that inhibits fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, making it valuable in facial plastic surgery for scar modulation and other conditions. This systematic review examines the indications, outcomes, and safety of 5-FU in facial plastic surgery. Due to methodological heterogeneity across studies, a narrative synthesis was performed. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, SCOPUS, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science identified 32 eligible studies (1,456 patients) from 4,772 screened articles. Indications included keloids, hypertrophic scars, contractures, periocular scars, granulomas from filler complications, nasal skin thickening, infections following thread lifts, resistant facial warts, and hypochromic lesions. Most studies reported reductions in scar size, erythema, and recurrence rates, with combination therapies enhancing outcomes. Adverse effects were mild and transient. However, variability in dosing, administration frequency, and follow-up underscores the need for standardized treatment guidelines and long-term studies.

Keywords

5-Fluorouracil - scar management - facial plastic surgery - intralesional therapy - combination therapy

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Referenzen

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