Atrophic Facial Scar Treatment Outcomes Improved With Condensed Nanofat, Fat Grafts

The use of condensed nanofat in combination with fat grafting can be effective for the treatment of atrophic facial scars, from both an aesthetic and functional perspective, according to results of a study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

A total of 20 patients (6 men, 14 women) with 25 atrophic facial scars were included in this prospective case series, conducted at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou, China, between March 2014 and December 2016. Mean patient age was 38.25 years (range, 21-62 years). Postoperative results were assessed by the patients themselves and by 3 senior plastic surgeon observers.

Multiple presurgical and postsurgical examinations included use of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) to assess both the functional and the aesthetic aspects of the atrophic facial scars according to patients and clinician observers. The POSAS grades 6 properties of the scar on the patient scale (color, pliability, thickness, relief, itching, and pain) and 5 scar properties on the observer scale (vascularization, pigmentation, pliability, thickness, and relief).

Patients’ mean POSAS scores were significantly decreased postoperatively at the final examination for color (6.40 vs 2.40; P <.001), stiffness (7.20 vs 3.20; P <.001), thickness (5.80 vs 1.80; P =.001), and irregularity (5.20 vs 2.20; P =.003). Observers’ POSAS scores were also significantly decreased for pigmentation (4.40 vs 2.00; P =.004), thickness (3.00 vs 1.80; P =.03), relief (4.40 vs 2.40; P =.003), and pliability (4.20 vs 1.40; P <.001). At the final follow-up examination, a significantly improved overall POSAS score was reported among both patients (28.80 vs 12.20; P <.001) and observers (18.00 vs 9.20; P =.001).

The researchers concluded that based on preliminary clinical and pathologic findings, the use of condensed nanofat combined with fat grafts may be effective for treating facial atrophic scars. Additional research and larger patient samples are warranted to investigate and better understand the mechanisms associated with condensed nanofat and the remodeling of atrophic scars to provide results that are even more reliable and predictable for patients.

Reference

Gu Z, Li Y, Li H. Use of condensed nanofat combined with fat grafts to treat atrophic scars [published online September 21, 2017]. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. doi: 10.1001/jamafacial.2017.1329