The principle of a three-staged operation in the surgery of acne scars

Abstract

Background: Acne scars cannot be effectively corrected by a single treatment modality because of their widely varied depth and width. Objective: We assessed the effectiveness of staged combinations of several surgical modalities in the treatment of acne scars. Methods: Focal chemical peeling, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser, scar excision, punch grafting, and dermabrasion were used. Initially, focal chemical peeling was performed on all patients and then CO 2 laser, scar excision, and punch grafts were used for deep scars. Finally, dermabrasion was done for the remaining scars. Results: Seventy-five percent of patients showed excellent or good results. The degree of improvement increased as the follow-up periods and number of focal chemical peeling procedures increased and as the 3-staged operation progressed. Conclusion: A 3-staged operation is effective in the treatment of patients with various types of acne scars. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:95-7.)