Acne scars are not effectively corrected by a single treatment modality because of their widely varied depths and widths.

This study was performed to assess the effectiveness of staged combinations of several surgical modalities in the treatment of various acne scars.

Chemical peeling, CO₂ laserbrasion, scar excision, punch grafting, and dermabrasion were included in this study as surgical modalities. Initially, chemical peeling was performed on all patients and then CO₂ laserbrasion, scar excision and punch grafts were used for deep scars. Finally, dermabrasion was done for the remaining scars. Questionnaires were completed for clinical assessments by the patients and clinicians.

Clinicians assessed the results as "excellent and good" in 75% of patients. However, only 53% of patients gave this same result. The degree of satisfaction escalated as the followup periods and number of chemical peeling procedures increased and as the sequence of the 3 staged operation progressed.

We suggest that the principle of 3 staged operations would be effective in the treatment of patients with various types of acne scars.