Post-burn and Keloid Scar Treatment with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSC)

Keloid scars are pathological scars resulting from aberrations of physiologic wound healing. They are characterized by a local fibroblast proliferation and excessive collagen productions. Unlike hypertrophic scars (the excessive scar formation remains confined within the edges of the wound area and can regress spontaneously over time), keloids extend beyond the area of injury, can involve the adjacent normal skin, and do not regress. Throughout the time both surgical and non-surgical therapies have been proposed but none of them has been found to be the definitive treatment. Adipose-derived stem cells have been worldwide used to treat scars due to their angiogenic and anti-apoptotic properties which have effect on wound healing, soft-tissue restoration, and scar remodeling. The use of autologous fat grafting for the treatment of pathologic scars has become more and more popular due to the large number of patients suffering from this condition that did not show improvement with the treatments available. The main effects can be seen after 3 months from the procedures and lead to a better scar color, pliability, thickness, relief, itching, pain, scar vascularization, pigmentation. Indeed autologous fat grafting is able to make the skin softer, more flexible, and extensible; moreover, the color of the keloid becomes similar to the surrounding unharmed skin.