Since the 1950s, dermaplaning has been used to improve acne scars. However, global improvement is often limited and remains about 50%. By combining the techniques of subcision, subcutaneous filling, laser shrinkage of collagen, dermabrasion, and excision of acne scars, we hoped to achieve a more pleasing aesthetic result. After preconditioning the skin of 62 patients (ages 17—47, mean age 32; 22 men and 40 women) with vitamin A/glycolic conditioning lotions, a Jessner/TCA peel was performed on the neck and décolletage area. The periorbital areas were also peeled if they were not photoaged. The acne valleys were subcised with a semiblunt needle, and the developed pockets were filled with adipose tissue. Then, the surface skin was vaporized with three passes of a CO2 laser, and the deeper acne scars in the midface region were sanded with a diamond fraise abrasion. Remaining scars were relasered, excised, or both, and sutured or grafted. To facilitate healing, a semiocclusive dressing was used for 5 days, then replaced with an ointment-based moisturizer for another 5 days. After 10 days, a moisturizer–sunscreen was used, followed by a bleaching cream at 15 days, if necessary. Patients were usually back to work in 2 weeks. By combining these multiple modalities of dermal subcision and augmentation, collagen shrinkage, and dermal sanding, dramatic improvement of the acne-scarred face was possible.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.