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Is Fat Injection a Solution for my Acne Scars?

asked 3 years ago by Post Acne Sufferer in Saudi Arabia
Latest answer by Andrew Winkler, MD
Question viewed 5,423 times
Tags: cheeks, male, fat injection, Middle Eastern

I have sensitive skin and thus the acne that I had a as teenager has left red, depressed scars on my cheeks. I have been for chemical peels, ND yag, and a session of co2 laser, which was very painful indeed and not very successful. There wasn't a considerable change in my scars. I also have been using Obagi Clear and Blender off and on for about 1 year. I have visited a plastic surgeon and she has recommended fat injections to correct these scars.

Is this a good option for me? Will fat injections correct the redness as well, or should I go for another session of co2 laser? Please suggest... thanks, previous acne sufferer

12 answers to Is Fat Injection a Solution for my Acne Scars?

+2

Fat Grafting Will Not Work For You

Fat grafting does not work well for acne scars for several reasons: 1.  The fat is too soft to fill punctate holes in. 2.  Fat that is harvested is biologically different from facial fat and can change over time if just placed under the skin.  I do a ton of fat transfers and have written the book on it, Complementary Fat Grafting.  You must understand the biologic nature of fat before advocating it. 3.  Fat will not help color. I prefer in your... more
Samuel Lam, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Fat injections for acne scarring

Perhaps it is my inexperience, but I have not found fat injections helpful for acne scarring. I just haven't been able to deposit the fat absolutely precisely underneath each acne scar, due to the globular nature of the fat. The patients I have seen who have had this technique look generally lumpy. Ice pick scars seem to respond best to direct removal. Generalized acne scarring seems to respond best to laser resurfacing with the CO2 laser, and, in older patients, a facelift. Ultralight... more
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Acne Scars and Stem Cells?

Great question.  While I agree with the others here for the most part, I'm not so sure that we completely know the answer to this question.  Fat transfer is probably not the best first option for treatment of acne scars.  However, there is a great deal of exciting research going on into the effect of the stem cells that are transferred with the fat during this procedure.  Research has shown a rejuvenative effect on facial scars and skin that is independent of... more
Andrew Winkler, MD

Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat injection for acne scars

Fat injection is not a good answer for acne scars.  Each scar treatment is based on the individual characteristics of the scar.  If facial fillers are to be used, better options are out there which are less costly and more effective.
Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat injections will not help acne scars.

Acne scars are "depressed" creating a shadow as the skin is anchored to the deeper tissue.  Fat injections do not release this scarring and really don't help much.  Attempts have been made to release the scar and then prop up the skin with a graft of some kind, but I have been unimpressed with this somewhat involved procedure.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Subcision

As the developer of the Viafill fat transfer technique, I have had the opportunity of using Viafill for a great many indications. However, fat transfer for acne scars does not work. My best suggestion is subcision and filler. Subcision is a technique to cut the deep scar attachments and then fill with a small filler. Fat is too big.
Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat injection for acne scars

Although it is possible to inject fat for acne scars there are better solutions. Fat grafting is excellent when the goal is to recount or a portion of the body or to fill significant defects. The scarring that may occur after acne are very small and can often best be treated with injections of fillers or by a small excision of the scar itself  
B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat injection may help contour but not redness

  I have treated acne scars with fat injections.  If acne scars have left the face with loss of soft tissue this can be improved with fat grafting.  I have also done fat grafting with CO2 laser in the same session.  For redness I’d recommend IPL (intense pulse light).
Sam Naficy, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ways to Improve Facial Acne Scar

Options to improve non-pigmented facial acne scar depends on the size, depth, skin quality, and skin color of the individual. Options, which are often combined, are used to tret a facial acne scar: Skin products: use of bleaching and exfoliants such Retin-A are helpful for acne control chemical peeling: chemical peel can further be used to treat active acne and pores micro-needle dermaroller therapy: this option improves pores, small superficial acne scar, while improving skin quality... more
George Sun, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Acne Scars

Acne scars require multiple treatments. Your problem is the discoloration and that will not be improved by fat injections. Although there is enough evidence that with fat injections, there are STEM CELLS which may play a role in improving skin quality. I would recommend using the full Obaji line, few peels, TCA, then another good CO2 laser.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat will not correct redness

Fat augmentation is an option for improving depressions associated with acne scars. It will not change the redness you are describing. A better option for the redness may be topical creams, IPL treatments, or PDL treatments.
D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Fat injections may help

Post Acne Sufferer, Fat injections may help. It seems like you have tried all the right therapies. The fat will help the depressions for sure. There is also the possibility that the fat will help change the character of the overlying skin.
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

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