Korean J Dermatol.  1998 Apr;36(2):286-290.

Innovation of Punch Elevation for Surgery of Acne, Pox & Artophic Scars by Purse-String suture

• Whang KK
• Kim HJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Punch grafts and punch elevation can be useful for the correction of deep pitting or round atrophic acne scars. The traditional punch elevation technique gives inadequete results. Even round scars leave a retraction space and do not always heal well.
OBJECTIVES
& METHODS: To improve the cosmetic results of traditional punch elevation and thus promote the use of punch elevation instead of punch grafting, we performed punch elevation with purse-string sutures on 10 patients with acne, pox & atrophic scars. We performed dermabrasion or CO2 laserbrasion after 8 weks.
RESULTS
Nicely fit margins of the punch elevation site with purse-string suture left no retraction spaces and enhanced the aesthetic results.
CONCLUSION
Punch elevation is a simple, satisfactory method of improving cosmetic results in scars. The Purse-string suture technique can make it a more valuable tool for surgery of facial scars, because it overcomes of disadvantages the punch elevation.

MeSH Terms

Acne Vulgaris*
Cicatrix*
Dermabrasion
Humans
Suture Techniques
Sutures*
Transplants