The use of RF microneedling and HA fillers for the treatment of atrophic scars

Objetivos: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency (RF) microneedling and hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers for the treatment of atrophic scars. Introducción: Atrophic scars, particularly post-acne lesions affecting 95% of acne patients, significantly impact quality of life. Current treatment modalities often fail to provide satisfactory outcomes. This study investigates a combined approach integrating RF microneedling with subcision and HA filler injections to enhance scar treatment efficacy. Materiales / método: The prospective study included 84 patients with atrophic scars randomized into two groups: Group 1 received 3 RF microneedling sessions, while Group 2 underwent combined treatment with 3 RF microneedling sessions, subcision and HA filler injections. Evaluation utilized Goodman–Baron scar severity scale, FACE-Q questionnaire, Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), 3D imaging, skin analysis imaging, and ultrasound examination. Resultados: In the monotherapy group, a 10% reduction in scar severity was observed, with 62% of patients reporting partial satisfaction. The dermis thickness increased by 5.3%. The combined treatment group demonstrated superior results: a 30.8% reduction in scar severity, 93% patient satisfaction, and a 18.8% increase in dermis thickness. Significant improvements were noted in skin texture (2.1×), wrinkle smoothing (2×), scar depth reduction (1.9×), and width reduction (1.8×). Skin analysis imagingshowed improvements of 26–75% in the combined group versus 10–50% in the monotherapy group (p < 0.001). Conclusión: The combined treatment of atrophic scars with RF microneedling followed by subcision and HA filler injections is associated with superior outcomes relative to RF microneedling monotherapy. The synergistic effect leads to enhanced clinical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction rates, supporting its potential as an advanced treatment protocol.