feasibility study: evaluation of the ulthera® system for improvement of surgical scars.

Conditions: Surgical Scar

Summary: up to 25 subjects will be enrolled. enrolled subjects will received on ulthera® treatment on one half of their surgical scar. follow up visits will occur at 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment. study images will be obtained before treatment, immediately after treatment and at each follow-up visit.

this is a prospective, single-center, pilot clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of the ulthera® system to improve the appearance of scar tissue on the neck, abdomen or back. changes from baseline of the patient observer scar assessment scale score will be assessed at study follow-up visits. images will be obtained prior to treatment and at each follow up visit. patient satisfaction questionnaires will also be obtained.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. male or female, age 18 to 70 years. 2. subject in good health. 3. subjects will have regularly shaped surgical scars on the chest, abdomen or back that are at least 4 cm long, are no wider than 1 cm, and are at least 6 months old. 4. understands and accepts the obligation not to undergo any other procedures in the areas to be treated through the follow-up period. 5. willingness and ability to comply with protocol requirements, including returning for follow-up visits and abstaining from exclusionary procedures for the duration of the study. 6. subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test result and must not be lactating at the screening visit and be willing and able to use an acceptable method of birth control (e.g. barrier methods used with a spermicidal agent, hormonal methods, iud, surgical sterilization, abstinence) during the study. women will not be considered of childbearing potential if one of the following conditions is documented on the medical history: * postmenopausal for at least 12 months prior to study; * without a uterus and/or both ovaries; or * bilateral tubal ligation at least six months prior to study enrollment. exclusion criteria: 1. presence of an active systemic or local skin disease that may affect wound healing. 2. allergy to any pain medications used in the study (lidocaine, nsaids, narcotics, etc.) 3. severe solar elastosis. 4. open wounds or lesions in the area(s) to be treated. 5. severe or cystic acne on the area(s) to be treated. 6. presence of a metal stent or implant in the area(s) to be treated. 7. inability to understand the protocol or to give informed consent. 8. microdermabrasion, or prescription level glycolic acid treatment to the treatment area(s) within three months prior to study participation or during the study. 9. intralesional kenalog in the past 6 months. 10. history of chronic drug or alcohol abuse. 11. history of autoimmune disease. 12. concurrent therapy that, in the investigator's opinion, would interfere with the evaluation of the safety or efficacy of the study device. 13. subjects who anticipate the need for surgery or overnight hospitalization during the study. 14. subjects who, in the investigator's opinion, have a history of poor cooperation, noncompliance with medical treatment, or unreliability. 15. concurrent enrollment in any study involving the use of investigational devices or drugs. 16. current smoker or history of smoking in the last year. 17. history of the following treatments in the area(s) to be treated: 1. skin tightening procedure within the past year; 2. injectable filler of any type within the past: i. 12 months for hyaluronic acid fillers (e.g. restylane) ii. 12 months for ca hydroxyapatite fillers (e.g. radiesse) iii. 24 months for poly-l-lactic acid fillers (e.g. sculptra) iv. ever for permanent fillers (e.g. silicone, artefill) c. neurotoxins within the past three months; d. ablative resurfacing laser treatment; e. nonablative, rejuvenative laser or light treatment within the past six months; f. surgical dermabrasion or deep peels; g. any history of contour threads. 18. history of using the following prescription medications: 1. accutane or other systemic retinoids within the past six months; 2. topical retinoids within the past two weeks; 3. antiplatelet agents/anticoagulants (coumadin, heparin, plavix, etc.); 4. psychiatric drugs that in the investigators opinion would impair the subject from understanding the protocol requirements or understanding and signing the informed consent. 5. subjects that are immunocompromised or are on immunosuppressive therapy 19. subjects that are immunocompromised or are on immunosuppressive therapy 20. history of keloids

Keywords: ulthera, ultherapy, surgical scar, scar,