Prospective Evaluation of Atrophic Acne Scars on the Face With Needle-Free High-Pressure Pneumatic Injection: Quantitative Volumetric Scar Improvement

BACKGROUND Atrophic acne facial scars still pose a treatment challenge. Needle-free high-pressure pneumatic injection has recently been introduced; however, few studies exist regarding its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pneumatic injection for treating atrophic acne scars using a 3-dimensional optical profiling system. METHODS AND MATERIALS A pneumatic injection device with a 0.2-mm nozzle diameter, 50% pressure power, and 85-μL injection volume was used. The degree of depression was examined and analyzed using a 3-dimensional optical profiling system and clinical photographs. The patients also evaluated any side effects. Each subject underwent a single treatment session and was followed up after 1 and 2 months. RESULTS A total of 13 atrophic acne scars from 10 Korean men and women aged 20 to 29 (mean age 25.8 ± 2.4) years were studied. The mean scar volume values were 0.964, 0.741, and 0.566 mm3, respectively, at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after the injection. Scar volumes after 2 months were significantly different compared with baseline volumes. However, there was no significant difference between the baseline and 1-month volumes. CONCLUSION Treatment with pneumatic injection is safe and effective in reducing atrophic acne facial scars; it results in quantitative improvement in scar volumes. Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Il-Hwan Kim, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, College of Medicine, Korea University, Jeokgeum-ro 123 (Gojan-dong), Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do 15355, Korea, or e-mail: kumcihk@korea.ac.kr This work was supported (Grant No. C0421303) by Project for Cooperative R&D between Industry, Academy, and Research Institute funded by Korea Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2016. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters. © 2018 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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