The investigation of the efficacy and safety of stromal vascular fraction in the treatment of nanofat-treated acne scar: a randomized blinded controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: Acne is the most common skin disorder which is known as a chronic inflammatory disease with psychological burden and reduced quality of life. Adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is recognized as a source of regenerative cells and improves the quality of skin by increasing collagen content. To date, a few studies have been performed on the therapeutic role of SVF in the treatment of acne scars. METHODS: This randomized, single-blinded clinical trial was performed on 7 patients with acne scars. In all patients, the initial grade of acne (volume, area and depth) was evaluated and ultrasound of the relevant scar was performed to evaluate neocollagenesis. As a spilt face study, for treating the scars, we used nanofat subcutaneously on one side of the face (control group) and combination of nanofat subcutaneously and SVF intradermally on the opposite side (intervention group). The patients were evaluated for severity of acne by visioface after one month, also for thickness of epidermis and dermis by ultrasound after one month and three months. RESULTS: All of the apparent findings of scars improved in two groups after one month, but these changes were significant just for the group treated with SVF (p value < 0.05). Epidermal, dermal and complete thicknesses during the first month in both control and intervention groups were significantly increased (p value < 0.05) but between the first and third months, there was no significant difference in the variables (p value > 0.05). The findings showed that dermal and complete thicknesses of the skin in the first month were different between two groups significantly (p value: 0.042 and 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: The use of SVF in the treatment of patients with acne scars accelerates the improvement of volume, area and depth of the scar by increasing collagen content and the dermal thickness, so it can be used as a potentially effective treatment for these patients.