Acne ScarsNCT07094958
Efficacy of Stromal Vascular Fraction on Acne Scar Correction
A study testing stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and Normal Saline (NS) in people with Acne Scars and Acne Scars - Atrophic, run by Seoul National University Hospital.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. SVF is a heterogeneous cell population derived from adipose tissue, containing various regenerative and immunomodulatory cells, including mesenchymal stem… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Acne Scars, Acne Scars - Atrophic
- What is being tested?
- stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and Normal Saline (NS)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 16 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jul 2025to Jul 2026
- 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 19 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 19 and 45 years
- Presence of bilateral atrophic acne scars (boxcar, rolling, or icepick types) on the face
- Willingness to undergo fat harvesting procedure
- Ability to comply with study visits and follow-up
- Written informed consent obtained
Who cannot join
- Active acne lesions on the treatment area
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- Prior treatment for acne scars (e.g., laser, filler, microneedling) within the past 6 months
- History of systemic immunosuppressive therapy within the past 3 months
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- Any systemic disease that may interfere with wound healing or safety assessment (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, collagen vascular disease)
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of Intradermal Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scar
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. SVF is a heterogeneous cell population derived from adipose tissue, containing various regenerative and immunomodulatory cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and pericytes.
In this prospective, randomized, split-face clinical trial, participants with atrophic acne scars will receive SVF injections on one side of the face and normal saline (NS) injections on the contralateral side as a control. Clinical efficacy will be assessed through blinded scar counts, digital imaging, and histological evaluations including epidermal and dermal regenerative markers. The study is designed to investigate whether SVF provides superior clinical improvement compared to placebo.
- Conditions
- Acne Scars, Acne Scars - Atrophic
- Being tested
- stromal vascular fraction (SVF), Normal Saline (NS)
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
stromal vascular fraction (SVF)Biological
Autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated from adipose tissue was injected intradermally into one side of the face to evaluate its efficacy in treating atrophic acne scars. SVF was freshly prepared on the same day of injection using enzymatic digestion and centrifugation.
Normal Saline (NS)Other
Normal saline (NS) was injected intradermally into the contralateral side of the face and served as a placebo comparator to SVF in this split-face study on atrophic acne scars.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SVF-treated side | Experimental | Intradermal injection of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) on one side of the face. Receives: Biological: stromal vascular fraction (SVF) |
| Saline-treated side | Placebo comparator | Intradermal injection of normal saline (NS) on the contralateral side of the face. Receives: Other: Normal Saline (NS) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in total number of atrophic acne scars from baseline to Week 5
Measured: Baseline and 5 weeks after treatment
Change in total number of atrophic acne scars from baseline to Week 10
Measured: Baseline and 10 weeks after treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Jul 2025
- Study startJul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Acne ScarsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Seoul National University HospitalThe 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
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Seoul National University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dae Hun Suh, Seoul National University Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07094958
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Acne scar_SVF study
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 29 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 31 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Mbiine R, Wayengera M, Kiwanuka N, Munabi I, Muwonge H, Nakanwagi C, Joloba M, Galukande M. Autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in scar treatment among patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars: a systematic review and meta-analysis of current practices and outcomes. Am J Stem Cells. 2023 Dec 15;12(5):98-111. eCollection 2023.
PubMed 38213639Bora P, Majumdar AS. Adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction in regenerative medicine: a brief review on biology and translation. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2017 Jun 15;8(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s13287-017-0598-y.
PubMed 28619097Connolly D, Vu HL, Mariwalla K, Saedi N. Acne Scarring-Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Treatment Options. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017 Sep;10(9):12-23. Epub 2017 Sep 1.
PubMed 29344322Dreno B, Layton A, Bettoli V et al. Evaluation of the prevalence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and burden of acne scars among active acne patients in brazil, france, and the USA. J Am Acad Dermatol 2017; 76:ab132.
Kwon HH, Yoon HS, Suh DH, Yoon JY, Park SK, Lee ES, Lee JH, Kim NI, Kye YC, Ro YS, Lee SJ, Kim MN, Sung KJ, Lee ES, Kim KJ; Korean Society for Acne Research. A nationwide study of acne treatment patterns in Korea: analysis of patient preconceived notions and dermatologist suggestion for treatment. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 May;92(3):236-40. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1331.
PubMed 22367348Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF. Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Nov 23;326(20):2055-2067. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.17633.
PubMed 34812859Suh JH, Kim JY, Yoon JY, Lee JH, Kim DH, Jin U, Suh DH. Comparison of Efficacy of Intradermal Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection Versus Saline Injection in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scar: A 10-Week, Prospective, Randomized, Split-Face, Single-Blind Controlled Trial. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2025 Dec 18. doi: 10.1007/s13555-025-01617-6. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 41413319
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Intradermal Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scar
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07094958
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Acne scar_SVF study
- Conditions
- Acne Scars, Acne Scars - Atrophic
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 16 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Seoul National University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jul 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Jul 2025 (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 evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in the treatment of atrophic acne scars. SVF is a heterogeneous cell population derived from adipose tissue, containing various regenerative and immunomodulatory cells, including mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and pericytes.
In this prospective, randomized, split-face clinical trial, participants with atrophic acne scars will receive SVF injections on one side of the face and normal saline (NS) injections on the contralateral side as a control. Clinical efficacy will be assessed through blinded scar counts, digital imaging, and histological evaluations including epidermal and dermal regenerative markers. The study is designed to investigate whether SVF provides superior clinical improvement compared to placebo.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SVF-treated side | Experimental | Biological: stromal vascular fraction (SVF)Intradermal injection of autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) on one side of the face. |
| Saline-treated side | Placebo comparator | Other: Normal Saline (NS)Intradermal injection of normal saline (NS) on the contralateral side of the face. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Age between 19 and 45 years
- Presence of bilateral atrophic acne scars (boxcar, rolling, or icepick types) on the face
- Willingness to undergo fat harvesting procedure
- Ability to comply with study visits and follow-up
- Written informed consent obtained
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Active acne lesions on the treatment area
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
- Prior treatment for acne scars (e.g., laser, filler, microneedling) within the past 6 months
- History of systemic immunosuppressive therapy within the past 3 months
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
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 |
|---|---|---|
| stromal vascular fraction (SVF)Autologous stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated from adipose tissue was injected intradermally into one side of the face to evaluate its efficacy in treating atrophic acne scars. SVF was freshly prepared on the same day of injection using enzymatic digestion and centrifugation. | Biological | SVF-treated side |
| Normal Saline (NS)Normal saline (NS) was injected intradermally into the contralateral side of the face and served as a placebo comparator to SVF in this split-face study on atrophic acne scars. | Other | Saline-treated side |
Primary outcome
Change in total number of atrophic acne scars from baseline to Week 5
Time frame: Baseline and 5 weeks after treatment
Change in total number of atrophic acne scars from baseline to Week 10
Time frame: Baseline and 10 weeks after treatment
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 31 Jul 2025.
- Results publication: PubMed 38213639Mbiine R, Wayengera M, Kiwanuka N, Munabi I, Muwonge H, Nakanwagi C, Joloba M, Galukande M. Autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in scar treatment among patients with keloids and hypertrophic scars: a systematic review and meta-analysis of current practices and outcomes. Am J Stem Cells. 2023 Dec 15;12(5):98-111. eCollection 2023.
- Results publication: PubMed 28619097Bora P, Majumdar AS. Adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction in regenerative medicine: a brief review on biology and translation. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2017 Jun 15;8(1):145. doi: 10.1186/s13287-017-0598-y.
- Results publication: PubMed 29344322Connolly D, Vu HL, Mariwalla K, Saedi N. Acne Scarring-Pathogenesis, Evaluation, and Treatment Options. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017 Sep;10(9):12-23. Epub 2017 Sep 1.
- Results publicationDreno B, Layton A, Bettoli V et al. Evaluation of the prevalence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and burden of acne scars among active acne patients in brazil, france, and the USA. J Am Acad Dermatol 2017; 76:ab132.
- Results publication: PubMed 22367348Kwon HH, Yoon HS, Suh DH, Yoon JY, Park SK, Lee ES, Lee JH, Kim NI, Kye YC, Ro YS, Lee SJ, Kim MN, Sung KJ, Lee ES, Kim KJ; Korean Society for Acne Research. A nationwide study of acne treatment patterns in Korea: analysis of patient preconceived notions and dermatologist suggestion for treatment. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 May;92(3):236-40. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1331.
- Results publication: PubMed 34812859Eichenfield DZ, Sprague J, Eichenfield LF. Management of Acne Vulgaris: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Nov 23;326(20):2055-2067. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.17633.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41413319Suh JH, Kim JY, Yoon JY, Lee JH, Kim DH, Jin U, Suh DH. Comparison of Efficacy of Intradermal Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection Versus Saline Injection in the Treatment of Atrophic Acne Scar: A 10-Week, Prospective, Randomized, Split-Face, Single-Blind Controlled Trial. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2025 Dec 18. doi: 10.1007/s13555-025-01617-6. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and Normal Saline (NS) in people with Acne Scars and Acne Scars - Atrophic, run by Seoul National University Hospital.
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 5 inclusion and 6 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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 Dae Hun Suh (82+2-2072-2714, daehun@snu.ac.kr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in total number of atrophic acne scars from baseline to Week 5 (time frame: Baseline and 5 weeks after treatment). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07094958, which also lists 7 linked publications.
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 31 Jul 2025.