Treating Post-operative Scars with the Dermapen 3 TM The treatment of post-operative scars has been challenging for most practitioners. I have been impressed with the results using the Dermapen 3 TM in combination with other products since the device creates millions of micro-channels in the skin which allows for entry of products into the dermis for better results. Sometimes silicone tapping and steroids with 5FU don’t work so this offers another option. The Dermapen is the first automatic electric device created in Australia with Advanced Oscillating Vertical Needling (AOVN TM ) technology. This allows the pen to glide over the skin with precise automation where speed and depth of penetration can be controlled. There are a lot of copy-cat battery operated devices that don’t have this technology and the power will run out over time, hence the treatment will be subpar. The conditions that can be treated with the Dermapen is growing and I have used it for a lot of these. I want to talk about using the Dermapen to treat post-operative scarring. What is unique about micro-needling over other modalities is that certain growth factors are produced that are unique with this technique. Aust in 2010 1 did a complicated study and found what makes micro-needling unique from other treatments. What he found was there are certain growth factors that are produced after micro- needling that are not produced with lasers, chemical peels and other procedures that produce heat in the skin. The reason the Dermapen does not injury the epidermis is because transforming growth factor -Beta 3 is increased after 8 weeks and this as been shown to be important in scar-free wound healing. Collagen III is responsible for the thicken scars that we see after surgery. Collagen I is