Acne Scars

More Choices for Acne Scar Improvement

Fraxel re:store : eMatrix : Fraxel CO2 re:pair : SmoothBeam : Vbeam
Photo Dynamic Therapy : Fillers : Chemical Peels

There are many levels of acne scar reduction - from simple vascular laser for reducing redness to ablative laser for a power hit to lessen depressed acne scars. At Total Dermatology your choices are not limited to a single type of solution.

• Smoothing and Sculpting Acne Scars
• Filling Scars with Laser-Induced Collagen Production
• Removing Scar Redness
• Resurfacing Scars with the Fraxel Laser (Gold standard for scar reduction)
• New! eMatrix Non-laser Resurfacing for Skins of all color
• Dermal Fillers for Scar Revision
• Chemical Peels
• Fractional Ablative Laser Fraxel Re:Pair CO2
• Surgical/Micro-Surgical Procedures
• Fraxel Before and After Photos
• Fraxel Video Links

Many men and women who have had cystic acne during their lives are often left with deep, depressed scars that give the skin a crater-like or orange-peel appearance. These scars are a result of collagen and epidermal damage and do not go away without treatment. Frequently acne scars also retain a red appearance that causes them to be even more noticeable. See some of our acne scar patient results under Fraxel Acne Restore.

Acne and acne scars have some of the most profound negative psychological effects of any skin condition. Acne scar improvement most often requires special combinations of treatments. Some will respond well to a collagen-building laser, while others will need a combination of lasers such as Fraxel and Vbeam. Fraxel Acne Scar Photos

Smoothing and sculpting the scar with the use of lasers, chemical peels, fillers or micro-surgical procedures dramatically alter the appearance of acne and other scars.
Each "scar profile" can be improved, whether the scars are dense, isolated, red, "ice-pick" or the more common crater shaped. Smoother clearer skin with vastly diminished scar appearance can be achieved with a wide array of highly effective treatments.

Acne Scar Treatments

Non-Invasive Lasers

SmoothBeam: A non-invasive way to treat acne scars. Non-invasive lasers do not cut or remove the skin surface. Instead, their action occurs underneath the outer layers of the skin. Because the laser works at a deep level, you won't experience any pain or peeling. By stimulating the dermis with the laser's thermal beam, scars are gradually filled in to varying degrees by your body's own collagen.

The SmoothBeam laser employs a revolutionary, patented process with DCD (Dynamic Cooling Device). This device first deep-cools the area of skin to be treated with a short blast of cryogen spray which protects the epidermis. This is instantly followed by the laser beam which targets the upper dermis. This combined cooling/heating process protects the outer layer of skin while allowing the heat to reprogram the collagen-building process within the deeper layers of your skin. The scars are then filled in from the "inside out" by the production of this new collagen. Multiple treatments are necessary to stimulate the collagen and minimize the acne scars.

VBeam: Taking the Red out of Acne Scars
The "red" left behind in acne scars is a result of tiny broken capillaries at the site of the healed acne lesion. This redness is more common to "newer" acne scars and is hard to conceal, making the evidence of acne more pronounced, even after it has healed. Lasers which target these broken capillaries cause the small vessels to coagulate and be reabsorbed by the body. This effectively removes the redness.

Vbeam (Pulsed Dye Laser) is commonly used for the treatment of red acne scars, stretch marks and keloids, which are thickened scar tissue. It is also useful in treating the redness and broken vessels in the skin caused by Rosacea. The Vbeam laser usually requires three to five treatments. Because the VBeam uses a similar cooling and deep heating process to that of the SmoothBeam (though the target is the broken vessel) the treatment is well-tolerated and protects the outer surface of the skin.

The combination of VBeam and SmoothBeam lasers are commonly used during the same session to improve acne scars. There is no down-time for either SmoothBeam or VBeam laser treatments. Procedures are nearly painless...the laser pulse feels somewhat similar to the light "snap" of a rubber band.

Photo Source: Candela Laser

SmoothBeam Targeting of Collagen-Producing Dermis
The blue area is the DCD-protected epidermal layer
The red area is the targeted collagen-producing upper dermis

VBeam Protective Cooling and Target Treating
The blue area is the DCD-protected epidermal layer
The yellow beam selectively targets the broken vessels

(Source: Candela Laser)

Dermal Fillers: Restylane, Collagen or other filling-material injections are also used for the treatment of acne scars. The scar is first lifted and then filled with these products. This procedure is great for patients with severe scarring caused by acne, chicken pox, or scars from previous surgeries. This is a quick procedure performed in our office that causes little discomfort and minimal downtime. Restylane filler   Juvederm filler 

Chemical Peels: work well for mild to moderate acne scarring and also help even out the skin’s tone. A physician-strength peel, such as the Blue Peel or High Concentration Salicylic Acid Peel is used. These chemical solutions are applied to the skin causing a reaction similar to sunburn. After the skin completely peels over several days, new, smoother skin will replace the damaged skin. Chemical Peel link

Back to Top

Ablative Laser - Fraxel CO2 Re:pair

Ablative lasers are reserved for the more serious scarring or those who wish fewer treatments and can also accept some downtime. Because fractional ablative lasers actually remove columns of skin, recovery time is longer, but results are permanent and affect the skin at the deepest level.

The latest CO2 laser, Fraxel Re:pair: This laser produces more heat than Erbium: YAG lasers, allowing energy to penetrate deeper into the skin to tighten and smooth the skin’s collagen. Recovery time takes 4 to 7 days.
Read more about the Fraxel CO2 Laser

Sublative Resurfacing - eMatrix

eMatrix is a totally new system for skin resurfacing. Especially kind to skins with more melanin, eMatrix avoids the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation response frequently seen with laser. eMatrix uses RadioFrequency to resurface the skin, no laser.

Fiber Fractional  Erbium Laser (Tissue Coagulation Laser)

Fraxel re:store: The Fraxel re:store laser is a hybrid system using a fiber laser. It is unique in that it does not affect all the top layer of skin at once. Treatment areas are  miniature "dots'. This allows the skin to heal almost overnight with very minimal downtime or side effects. Most patients only experience slight reddening similar to a sunburn. Fraxel re:store is delivered in a series of treatments.

• See Dr. Pilest's Patient in Progress

 

 

Fraxel Acne Scar Reduction
Pre-Treatment	After 1 Fraxel Treatment
After 3 Fraxel Treatments	After 4 Fraxel Treatments

Fraxel re:store Laser Link

Surgical and Micro-Surgical Procedures

Punch excision surgery is an option for individuals with deep “ice pick” scars that have not improved with laser surgery. In this procedure, the scar is surgically removed and a patch of skin from elsewhere on the patient’s body is placed into the space, the wound is then closed with stitches.

Subcision is a procedure that involves using a needle to get underneath the scar disconnecting the fibers under the scar that are holding the scar down and keeping it indented.

Silicone gel pads are an option for patients who are not good candidates for the above procedures due to the current or recent use of Accutane or a tendency to get keloids. Silicone gel pads are similar to bandages in that they can slightly reduce the appearance of scars but seem to work best on fresh scars.

During your office consultation you will be provided with a detailed plan of the treatments that will benefit you most. Please Contact Us for a consultation appointment or with any questions you may have.

Back to Top