Laser Treatment for Acne Scars

Every individual acne scar is different from all others with its own unique internal structure. This makes them difficult and complicated to treat. Every acne scar needs to be individually assessed and requires customized treatment protocols according to each patient’s specific needs.

Our advanced laser treatment protocols for acne scars are very comprehensive. They typically include numerous types of lasers specific for working with collagen and other scar tissue. Acne scar tissue is remodeled into smooth healthy collagen and new growth of young, healthy collagen is generated. Skin that has been damaged by acne cysts is smoothed and resurfaced.

Of course, any discoloration, such as dark pigmented spots, vascular lesions and broken capillaries that are common with acne scars are also treated. Your skin will return as closely as possible to an even and consistent tone, to what it was before the cystic acne caused the acne scars.

Multiple-Modality Laser Treatment for Acne Scars

The reduction of acne scarring includes various types of lasers combined with non-laser modalities that produce a far better clinical outcome than any one method alone.

The CO2 Fractional laser is one of the lasers we use that is very effective at reducing the appearance of acne scars.

Laser Modalities Used in Acne Scar Removal

1. Collagen Neogenesis – New collagen remodeling and production is stimulated deep in the dermis. This will fill the acne scars from the inside out.
2. Contraction of Acne Scars – A lateral contraction of the acne scar is caused by deep fractionated micro columns of energy. This causes them to simply become smaller from side to side. This is done at the deepest as well as the shallow layers of the dermis. When compared to ablative resurfacing, this method is faster to recover from and more efficient than non-ablative resurfacing.
3. Sublative Dermal Remodeling – A geometrically reversed pulse of energy is introduced deep into the dermis with this technique. This causes maximal contraction of the acne scarred tissue.
4. Ablative Resurfacing – Enables collagen reformation and re-epithelialization by removing the epidermis and a portion of the dermis. This smoothes the outer layers of the epidermis leaving the skin smooth to the touch. The only downside of ablative resurfacing is the downtime which can be up to a week or two.
5. Coagulative Resurfacing – This method causes the breakdown and remodeling of the rigid and hard acne scar collagen into flexible and well organized collagen like healthy soft skin.
6. Color Blending Pigmentation – Removing hyper pigmentation or dark spots caused by cystic acne.
7. Color Blending Vascular – Removal of red vascular lesions often associated with acne scarring.
8. Epithelial Peel and Regeneration (Erbium Laser) – The outer-most dead layer of skin is precisely vaporized inducing a complete regeneration of a brand new epithelium that looks absolutely radiant.

Non-Laser Modalities for Treating Acne Scars

Collagen Induction Therapy, AKA Microneedling, is very effective in reducing the appearance of acne scars.

In most cases, laser acne scar treatments are integrated with a package of:

1. Microneedling – This treatment promotes the production of new collagen. A pen like device with many small micro-needles is run over the skin’s surface creating many perforations in the epidermis and dermis (similar to the CO2 Fractional laser). Microneedling has several benefits including low cost, a fast recovery time, barely any pain or discomfort and a very low risk of PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).
2. Subcision – Involves inserting a blade parallel to the skin’s surface to cut the fibrous strands holding the scar to the underlying tissue. Subcision is used for rolling or depressed scars.
3. Silk Peel (dermal infusion facials) – The dermal Infusion facial infuses your dermis with a variety of natural substances. This promotes further healing and rejuvenation of your skin to its silky-smooth, radiant state.
4. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy – After each laser treatment for acne scars to speed up recovery.

Between laser treatment for acne scar sessions, a series of non-laser treatments are typically scheduled along with hyperbaric oxygen treatments.