Dermal Steal Technique: A Single-Surgeon Retrospective Evaluation of Aesthetic Outcomes of Beveled versus Conventional Perpendicular Skin Incisions.

Abstract

Abstract Background  Beveled skin incision was proposed 30 years back to improve scar outcome. But we could not find any existing literature that studied the outcomes of beveled excision in a non-hair-bearing skin objectively. Methods  Twenty-eight patients undergoing skin excision during various aesthetic procedures were divided equally into two groups. In group I patients, both the apposing edges of skin had beveled incisions, while in group II conventional 90-degree incisions were given. The scar outcomes were measured using Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale v 2.0/EN (POSAS 2.0). Results  The means of the total score of the patient scale of POSAS had a statistically significant difference ( p  = 0.012) between the two groups, so had the means of the observer scale ( p  = 0.048). The difference in scores between overall patient opinion in the two groups was statistically significant ( p =  0.0119); however, it was not significant in the overall observer opinion ( p =  0.405). Conclusion  The beveled incision group had a better scar outcome than the perpendicular incision group.