This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Facial Plastic Surgery, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic

A Pilot Study

Deborah Watson, MD; Gregory S. Keller, MD; Victor Lacombe, MD; Peter B. Fodor, MD; Jeffrey Rawnsley, MD; Gary P. Lask, MD

Arch Facial Plast Surg. 1999;1:165-170.

Objective  To assess effectiveness of intradermal injections of autologous fibroblasts for the treatment of facial rhytids and dermal depressions.

Design  Six-month prospective pilot study. Photographs and silicone molds were taken of a prominent rhytid or dermal depression from each patient prior to treatment and at 6 months after treatment.

Setting  Specialty clinic in academic medical center.

Patients  Ten adults (age range, 24-69 years) who each exhibited a prominent rhytid or depressed facial scar.

Intervention  A 3-mm postauricular skin biopsy specimen from each participant was sent to Isolagen Technologies, Inc, laboratories, where a fibroblast cell line was developed. Three injection sessions were performed at 2-week intervals; target areas were the study site as well as behind the ear.

Main Outcome Measures  Subjective improvement scores were obtained by each patient and 2 clinicians at every follow-up visit. Skin surface topographical features were evaluated with optical profilometry by comparing silicone molds before and after injection. Histological analysis was performed on a biopsy specimen of the postauricular injection site.

Results  Nine of 10 patients noted a 60% to 100% improvement with the treatment; clinicians made similar observations. Size reduction of 10% up to 85% of the study site was demonstrated by optical profilometry for every patient. Microscopically, there was evidence of increased thickness and density of dermal-layer collagen.

Conclusions  Intradermal injection of autologous fibroblasts may be an effective treatment option for facial rhytids and depressed scars.

From the Divisions of Head and Neck Surgery (Drs Watson, Keller, Lacombe, and Rawnsley), Plastic Surgery (Dr Fodor), and Dermatology (Dr Lask), University of California, Los Angeles. Dr Watson is now with the Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Autologous Fibroblasts for Wrinkle Treatment
Journal Watch Dermatology 1999;1999:8-8.
FULL TEXT