Nanofat Injection for the Treatment of Depressed Facial Scars.

BACKGROUND: Patients with depressed facial scars complain of their negative effects. However, the efficacy of optional treatment techniques is never completely adequate. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of nanofat injection in the improvement of depressed facial scars. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent depressed facial scar filling with nanofat between November 2017 and January 2020. The FACE-Q scale was sent to patients for feedback regarding satisfaction. Evaluations of the results were also performed by three plastic surgeons. RESULTS: Among the 52 included patients, 44 patients (29 women and 15 men) completed the questionnaire. Obvious and stable effects were usually acquired 3 months after surgery. Temporary erythema appeared at the injection site to varying degrees, lasting 2 to 3 weeks in 93% of the patients. No other serious postoperative complications were observed in the injection area. The FACE-Q outcomes showed that patients who completed injection therapy more than 1 year prior were significantly more satisfied with the decision to undergo this therapy than those who completed the treatment less than 1 year prior. Furthermore, according to the physicians' evaluations, 91% of patients experienced improvement in scar appearance after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The low rate of injection-site complications and the safety of this procedure both support the current implementation of nanofat in the treatment of depressed facial scars. The results of the physicians' evaluations and patient satisfaction surveys confirmed the stable effect of nanofat injection in the treatment of depressed facial scars. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: 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.