Cosmetic surgeons in Bristol are looking for volunteers to try out a new treatment designed to reduce scarring.

Bristol Plastic Surgery, based in Queen Square, is working with Renovo, a leading biopharmaceutical company, in the testing of drugs to improve the appearance of scars.

They are currently carrying out third phase trials of Juvista, an injectable treatment which mimics a human growth factor essential to the healing process of scars.

The use of this growth factor is being tested on patients who wish to undergo the surgical revision of disfiguring scars.

Surgery is carried out to remove existing scar tissue and at the same time patients are injected with the drug which enables skin to heal with less scarring.

Nigel Mercer, a consultant plastic surgeon at Bristol Plastic Surgery, and president of both the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) and the European Association of Societies of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, said: "Scars can affect lives significantly, as they often act as a permanent reminder of injury, trauma or surgery and can result in disfigurement or impairment of motion."

Renovo is looking for people in the Bristol area who already have a scar, the appearance of which they would like improve.

Juvista has been used on 1,500 people in phase one and two trials which demonstrated significantly improved scar appearance. The results of the earlier trials were recently published in The Lancet (April 11 2009, vol 373, pages 1264-1274).

Dr John Hutchison, chief medical officer at Renovo, said: "I am pleased that Renovo is working with Bristol Plastic Surgery and their highly reputable team to develop this treatment and give citizens of the Bristol area who require scar revision surgery an opportunity to participate in this trial."

For more information about the trial, call 0117 910 2400.