Abstract
Background
Tissue filler injection is popular for tissue augmentation, but it is still not widely used for depressed scar correction because of the limitations of the existed materials.
Objective
This study was designed to observe the effects of a tissue-engineering filler derived from autologous skin and hairs for correction of moderate-severe depressed scars.
Patients and methods
Totally 40 volunteers with moderate-severe depressed scars were enrolled in. Keratin gel and fibroblast derived from autologous hairs and a small piece of skin were mixed with autoserum and then injected into the dermis of the deformities. The whole procedure for injection was: filling and leveling up the scars by 10% after adequate subcision and repeating the treatment every other 3 weeks for total 9 weeks. Clinical features at different time points of the scars were collected and assessed.
Results
Thirty-six patients followed the protocol completely, receiving at least 50% improvement in depth and size of scars (significant improvement) 1 year after the treatment, with 88.9% of them had ‘75% improvement or more improvement’ (excellent improvement). No severe complications were reported.
Conclusion
Autologous keratin and fibroblast as filler is an effective option for moderate-severe depressed scars correction with long-term efficacy and high satisfactory.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Author contributions
Qi Chen and Yue Yang contributed equally to the study. QC, YY, and JZ participated in the clinical application of the technique and the follow-up of the patients and analysis of data for the work. All authors participated drafted the article. QZ and JZ contributed the conception and design of the study and revised it critically for important intellectual content. All the authors approved the version to be submitted.