THE USE OF SUBCISION IN CONJUNCTION WITH FRACTIONAL CARBON DIOXIDE LASER TO IMPROVE ATROPHIC ACNE SCARS

PRIYANKA SHARMA; AJIT SINGH; ADITYA KUMAR TRIPATHI

doi:10.22159/ijcpr.2024v16i4.5019

Authors

PRIYANKA SHARMA Mrcs General Surgery, Surgical Registrar, Asha Derma Clinic, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
AJIT SINGH Ms Gen Surgery, Designation-Senior Resident Surgery, Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula, Haryana
ADITYA KUMAR TRIPATHI Md Dvl, Consultant Dermatologist, Asha Derma Clinic, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2024v16i4.5019

Keywords:

Acne scars, Subcision, Fractional CO2 laser, Patient satisfaction, Scar improvement, Dermatological treatment

Abstract

Objective: Acne is a prevalent skin condition affecting a wide range of age groups, often leading to severe scarring if left untreated. The use of subcision combined with fractional CO₂ laser therapy has been posited as a potentially more effective treatment method for atrophic acne scars compared to standalone laser treatment.

Methods: This clinical trial was conducted at Asha Derma Clinic, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, from 30^th March 2023 to 30^th March 2024. Thirty patients with ice pick and rolling-type atrophic acne scars were enrolled. Participants were treated on one side of their face with five sessions of fractional CO₂ laser and on the other side with one session of subcision with fractional CO₂ laser combined with four sessions of fractional CO₂ laser alone. Outcomes were assessed through scar improvement and patient satisfaction at 1, 2, and 6 mo post-treatment, with data analysis performed using ANOVA and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

Results: Significant improvements were observed in both recovery levels and patient satisfaction. The combined method showed higher recovery percentages (40-65%, Mean±SD: 54.7±7) compared to the laser alone (30-55%, Mean±SD: 43±11.1), with a p-value of 0.0005. Patient satisfaction also favored the combined method (1.8-3, Mean±SD: 6.6±1.2) over laser treatment alone (1.6-4, Mean±SD: 5.2±1.8), with a p-value of 0.0007.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated that subcision combined with fractional CO₂ laser therapy significantly enhances recovery levels and patient satisfaction in the treatment of atrophic acne scars, suggesting a robust advantage of integrating both treatments.

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