An interventional study of Microneedling and Dermabrasion in Scar, sponsored by Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-07.
Sponsored by Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to determine whether microneedling or dermabrasion in the early post-operative period is superior in improving the appearance of surgical scars on the face.
Microneedling and dermabrasion are two common modalities that may be performed in-office to treat surgical scars.
Microneedling is a form of collagen induction therapy, often used in conjunction with platelet-rich plasma or hyaluronic acid.
Dermabrasion is a technique that improves the skin structure, quality, and appearance of scars through collagen remodeling and reepithelization.
To determine which modality is most effective, a prospective study; randomizing a volunteer sample of adult patients with new surgical vertical forehead scars will receive either dermabrasion or microneedling in the early postoperative period.
611 studies on the registry are indexed under Cicatrix; 114 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 40 across 512 interventional studies indexed under Cicatrix.
Browse Cicatrix studies →Wake Forest University Health Sciences is the lead sponsor of 1,351 studies on the registry; 201 are open to participants now.
Of its 332 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 251 (76%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
microneedling is a form of collagen induction therapy, often used in conjunction with platelet-rich plasma or hyaluronic acid - Patients will receive two treatments, once at 6-8 weeks following facial surgery, and the second at 12-16 weeks following facial surgery
Procedure: Microneedling
dermabrasion is a technique that improves the skin structure, quality, and appearance of scars through collagen remodeling and reepithelization - Patients will receive the standard of care treatment 6-10 weeks following facial surgery
Procedure: Dermabrasion
a form of collagen induction therapy
a technique that improves the skin structure, quality, and appearance of scars through collagen remodeling and reepithelization
Change in Vancouver Scar Scale Scores
Four characteristics of the scar are assessed. These are: vascularity, height, pliability, and pigmentation. Each characteristic is given a score, which are added together to give an overall score between 0 and 13 - lower scores denoting normal skin
Time frame: Month 7
Change in Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale Scores
Items and total scale scores for the patient and observer: Each item on both scales has a score of 1 to 10. The lowest score is 1 and corresponds to the normal skin situation. The total score of both scales can be calculated simply by adding the scores of each of the six items. The total score will range from 6 to 60 - lower scores denoting normal skin
Time frame: Month 7
Change in Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale Scores
5-point scale wherein 2 = much improved (marked improvement in appearance), 1 = improved (improvement in appearance but a touch-up or re-treatment is indicated - lower scores denoting normal skin
Time frame: Month 7
Patient perceived benefit
At the time of intervention, patients will be asked to rank pain of procedure on a scale of 1-10 (1: minimal discomfort, 10: severe pain). At 6 months, they will also give a yes/no response as to whether they would undergo the study protocol (procedure) again.
Time frame: At time of procedure (pain scale); at 6 months (yes/no)
Plan to share: Yes — photo documentation, de-identified, for review of scar appearance after treatment
Time frame: Data will become available after all data collection is complete in order to perform independent blinded analysis of scars at all time points.
Access criteria: Researchers on the study protocol involved in scar assessment
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Apr 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Apr 2027, 36 months after the start.
Of 173 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Cicatrix, half reached primary completion within 20 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 36. This study's planned 36 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 206 studies reached it within 18 months; a quarter within 8 and three quarters within 36.
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