Ultramicro skin grafting technique for the treatment of intractable linear scars using adjacent normal skin.

Abstract

Intractable linear scars on the face, often resulting from trauma or surgery, pose significant clinical challenges due to their persistence and cosmetic impact. This retrospective study evaluated ultramicro skin grafting (UMSG) using adjacent normal skin in nine patients, with grafts harvested via a 0.6-mm micropunch and transplanted to scar sites. Over an average follow-up of 13.3 months, all patients achieved excellent repigmentation, social invisibility, and significant improvements in scar aesthetics based on the SCAR scale, without complications such as infections, hyperproliferation, or color mismatch. The minimally invasive nature, faster recovery, and favorable outcomes of UMSG suggest it as an effective and safe alternative for treating facial scars, warranting further validation through larger, controlled studies.