ScarNCT06171386
Microneedling vs Dermabrasion for Early Facial Scar Resurfacing
A study testing Microneedling and Dermabrasion in people with Scar, run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Scar
- What is being tested?
- Microneedling and Dermabrasion
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2024to Apr 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Volunteer adult patients will be identified by visiting the Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
- Patients will be 18 years old+ and have a vertical surgical scar in the superior 1/3 of the face (trichion to glabella).
- Patients will enroll in the clinic research registry and indicate an interest in being involved in the study.
Who cannot join
- Patients who rate Types 4-6 on the Fitzpatrick scale will be excluded due to risk of poor outcome from dermabrasion.
- There are no other planned exclusion criteria. Patients will not be excluded on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, or age, provided that they meet the described inclusion criteria.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157
Candace M Waters, MD, 336-716-4000, cmwaters@wakehealth.edu
About this study
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.
Read the detailed description
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.
- Conditions
- Scar
- Being tested
- Microneedling, Dermabrasion
- Keywords
- Dermabrasion, Microneedling, Surgical scars
- Medical subject headings
- Cicatrix
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MicroneedlingProcedure or surgery
a form of collagen induction therapy
DermabrasionProcedure or surgery
a technique that improves the skin structure, quality, and appearance of scars through collagen remodeling and reepithelization
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| microneedling | Active comparator | 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 Receives: Procedure: Microneedling |
| dermabrasion | Active comparator | 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 Receives: Procedure: Dermabrasion |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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
Measured: 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
Measured: 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
Measured: Month 7
Secondary outcomes (1)
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.
Measured: At time of procedure (pain scale); at 6 months (yes/no)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Dec 2023
- Study start1 Apr 2024
- Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ScarStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Wake Forest University Health SciencesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Patients will be invited to participate in the study through the clinic setting - aim to have around 30 patient volunteers. Of the 30 patients, 15 will be randomized to receive microneedling, and 15 will receive dermabrasion.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Candace M Water, MD, Principal investigator, Wake Forest University Health Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06171386
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00102716
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 5 Dec 2023
- Last updated
- 7 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: photo documentation, de-identified, for review of scar appearance after treatment
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Microneedling vs Dermabrasion for Early Facial Scar Resurfacing
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06171386
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB00102716
- Conditions
- Scar
- Keywords
- Dermabrasion, Microneedling, Surgical scars
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Wake Forest University Health SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Patients will be invited to participate in the study through the clinic setting - aim to have around 30 patient volunteers. Of the 30 patients, 15 will be randomized to receive microneedling, and 15 will receive dermabrasion.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| microneedling | Active comparator | Procedure: Microneedlingmicroneedling 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 |
| dermabrasion | Active comparator | Procedure: Dermabrasiondermabrasion 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 |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Volunteer adult patients will be identified by visiting the Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
- Patients will be 18 years old+ and have a vertical surgical scar in the superior 1/3 of the face (trichion to glabella).
- Patients will enroll in the clinic research registry and indicate an interest in being involved in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patients who rate Types 4-6 on the Fitzpatrick scale will be excluded due to risk of poor outcome from dermabrasion.
- There are no other planned exclusion criteria. Patients will not be excluded on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, or age, provided that they meet the described inclusion criteria.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Microneedlinga form of collagen induction therapy | Procedure or surgery | microneedling |
| Dermabrasiona technique that improves the skin structure, quality, and appearance of scars through collagen remodeling and reepithelization | Procedure or surgery | dermabrasion |
Primary outcome
Change in Vancouver Scar Scale Scores
Time frame: Month 7
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
Change in Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale Scores
Time frame: Month 7
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
Change in Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale Scores
Time frame: Month 7
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
1 secondary outcome
Patient perceived benefit
Time frame: At time of procedure (pain scale); at 6 months (yes/no)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. photo documentation, de-identified, for review of scar appearance after treatment
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Candace M Water, MD principal investigator
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Microneedling and Dermabrasion in people with Scar, run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Candace M Waters, MD (336-716-4000, cmwaters@wakehealth.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Vancouver Scar Scale Scores (time frame: Month 7). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 May 2026.