Early Intervention with Autologous Fat Grafting to Reduce Hypertrophic Scar Formation: A Prelimilary Study

Once an early-stage immature scar develops into a hypertrophic scar, it is difficult to achieve satisfactory improvement with existing treatments. Therefore, the prevention of hypertrophic scar formation should be given priority. Fat grafting was previously proven to be an effective treatment for mature scars, but it has not been used in the early-stages of (less than three months) scar formation.

We present our experience with the use of combined grafting of macro fat and emulsified fat for prevention of hypertrophic scar formation in patients.

Thirty-five patients who received fat grafting for facial scar repair were included as a treatment group and another 35 patients without particular interventions were classified as the control group. Patients in both groups were followed up every three months during one year, and the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used for evaluation of the clinical outcomes at baseline (within one to three months after trauma, burn or surgery) and after 12 months of follow-up.

All patients in the treatment group achieved a marked improvement after their first fat grafting procedure. Thirteen patients (37.1%) underwent the second procedure and seven (20%) underwent the third procedure. Statistical analysis of average VSS score also showed significant differences between the treatment and control groups.

The results of this retrospective study suggest that treatment of immature scars with combined grafting of macro fat and emulsified fat can successfully prevent the formation of hypertrophic scars.

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .