Fat Transfer for Depressed Acne Scars? Is This Possible and How Are the Results of the Procedure in the Facial Area?

Acne scars can be very difficult to treat, especially when more severe. A multimodality approach is usually the best plan, and can include direct excision of the scar, filler placement (with or without subcision), and laser resurfacing. The use of fillers works well for scars that are more superficial and softer; if the scar can be improved with manual stretching of the skin then it will often respond favorably to filler. Scars that are deeper, more fibrotic and tethered to deeper planes are much more difficult to fill; these may be better treated with excision. The use of fractionated laser resurfacing, such as the Fraxel laser, is often of great benefit and has added to our ability to improve acne scarring. In fact, once the more severe scars are addressed surgically, I would often consider fractionated laser resurfacing the “go to” treatment.

Best wishes, Ken Dembny

      Acne scars will not see 100% improvement with anything and will need a variety of measures including possibly laser resurfacing, filler or fat placement, and direct excision of the deeper ice pick scars.  A physical exam is always necessary to appreciate some of the subtlety in acne scarring and determine which modalities will have a greater likelihood for success.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Acne scars is very problematic because the skin is anchored to the deeper connective tissue by scar. Successful treatment is only occasional in involves release of the scar with intervening placement of material. This doesn't really work well with any filler including fat.