The Study of Surgical Treatment for Acne Scars:the Principle of a Three Staged Operation

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acne scars are not effectively corrected by a single treatment modality because of their widely varied depths and widths. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess the effectiveness of staged combinations of several surgical modalities in the treatment of various acne scars. METHODS: Chemical peeling, CO₂ laserbrasion, scar excision, punch grafting, and dermabrasion were included in this study as surgical modalities. Initially, chemical peeling was performed on all patients and then CO₂ laserbrasion, scar excision and punch grafts were used for deep scars. Finally, dermabrasion was done for the remaining scars. Questionnaires were completed for clinical assessments by the patients and clinicians. RESULTS: Clinicians assessed the results as "excellent and good" in 75% of patients. However, only 53% of patients gave this same result. The degree of satisfaction escalated as the followup periods and number of chemical peeling procedures increased and as the sequence of the 3 staged operation progressed. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the principle of 3 staged operations would be effective in the treatment of patients with various types of acne scars.