When compared to traditional skin grafting, autologous fractional full-thickness skin grafting results in less donor site morbidity during skin harvesting. The goal of this study is to show that full-thickness skin microbiopsies can be taken without causing any scarring or other complications. Full-thickness skin columns with widths of 200, 400, 500, 600, 800 μm, 1, and 2 μmm were harvested from (n = 8) participants in a self-controlled, nonrandomized pilot study. At 6 weeks after the operation, photos were evaluated blindly to determine how severe the scarring was using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. Both the degree of pain experienced and its associated side effects were documented using visual analog scales (VASs). Scars, when present, typically appeared between 2 and 4 weeks following the injury, and this was especially true for wounds more than 400 μm (P<.001). Blinded dermatologists more easily recognized photographs of clinical scarring with greater harvested microcolumn widths. The average visual analog scale (VAS) pain rating was 0 (range 0–4). All participants felt relatively comfortable during the process. In general, harvesting microcolumns from full-thickness skin is safe at a variety of column diameters. Side effects, such as scarring, are limited to diameters below 500 μm.
