Investigating the Efficacy of Modified Lipoaspirate Grafting to Improve the Appearance of Atrophic Acne Scars: A Pilot Study

Background Processed lipoaspirate grafting describes several techniques theorized to leverage the inflammatory and regenerative capacities of mechanically processed adipocytes to rejuvenate and correct skin pathology. While lipoaspirate grafting is typically leveraged to fill visible defects such as depressed scars and dermal lines, additional fat processing allows grafts to stimulate mechanisms of wound healing, including the promotion of fibroblast activation, neovascularization, and neocollagenesis. Objectives This study intends to assess the efficacy and tolerability of processed lipoaspirate grafting monotherapy to improve the clinical appearance of atrophic acne scars. Methods Subjects underwent a single autologous processed lipoaspirate grafting procedure at the site of atrophic acne scars. Objective and subjective scar analysis was performed at 3- and 6-months post-treatment. Scars were assessed via standard photography, topographic analysis, and noninvasive skin measurements. In addition, microbiopsies were obtained before and after treatment to assess histological or genetic changes. Clinical improvement was assessed using Subject and Clinician Global Aesthetic Improvement Scales (GAIS) and blinded photographic evaluation. Results Ten subjects between ages 18 and 60 completed the study. Clinical evaluation demonstrated that fat grafting improved the appearance of atrophic acne scars. CGAIS and SGAIS score showed clinical improvement at both 3- and 6-month follow-up compared to baseline (p Conclusions Micronized lipoaspirate injection is a viable and effective option to improve the appearance of facial acne scarring. Favorable improvements in atrophic acne scarring were captured by objective analysis of skin ultrastructure as well as improvement in subjective assessments of scarring.