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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Visualizing Scar Development Using SCAD Assay - An Ex-situ Skin Scarring Assay
Published on: April 28, 2022
Correlation between dermal thickness and scar formation in female patients after thyroidectomy
Hong Il Kim1, Chan Yee Kwak1, Hyo Young Kim1
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Background:
Minimizing scarring has long been a challenge in plastic surgery. Factors affecting scar formation are well known, but the effect of some patient-specific factors such as dermal thickness remains unverified. Management of factors predictive of scarring can improve postoperative patient satisfaction and scar treatment.
Methods:
For 3 years, we used ultrasonography to measure dermal thickness in female patients who had undergone thyroidectomy for cancer at our hospital. We confirmed the influence of dermal thickness on hypertrophic scar formation and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale scar score 6 months after surgery.
Results:
There was a positive correlation between dermal thickness and scar score (p<0.05), and dermal thickness appears to be a cause of hypertrophic scar formation (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Thick dermis was found to cause poor scar formation and hypertrophic scarring. Prediction of factors that can influence scar formation can be used to educate patients before surgery and can help in scar management and improvement in patient satisfaction.
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