Correction of Atrophic Scars With Artefill: An Open-label Pilot Study

Background: Artefill®, a novel permanent filler approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been used as an injectable implant for the correction of nasolabial folds. Fillers are considered a first line treatment for atrophic scars. Objective: The authors evaluated the degree of correction and subject satisfaction of correction of atrophic acne scar(s) after injection of Artefill. Methods: Fourteen qualified subjects participated in a single-center, open-label, pilot study. Atrophic acne scars were evaluated prior to injection. Subscision was performed, and then Artefill was injected into the scar. The degree of improvement was measured at weeks 2 and 4 and month 8. Subjects were asked to fill out a satisfaction survey at their eight-month visit. Results: Investigator ratings after eight months post procedure indicated that 96 percent of the atrophic acne scars showed some degree of improvement. There was no improvement in two out of a total of 57 scars evaluated. The majority of patients reported a moderate correction, correlating with a 51–75 percent improvement in their acne scars at eight months. No adverse events or side effects were noted. Conclusion: Artefill demonstrated to be both an efficacious and safe therapy for the treatment of atrophic acne scars.