Acne Scars Surgery

Acne breakouts are mostly frustrating and they can also leave scars on the face. If acne scars are making a person self-conscious or embarrassed about their skin then they should learn about treatments that can remove or reduce their appearance. Most of the patients with severe grade acne develop depressed acne scars (indentation in the skin) that are caused by a loss of tissue. They tend to appear sunken and look like pits in the skin. They are formed when not enough collagen is made while the wound is healing.

Before starting the acne scars treatment, it is always important to know what type of depressed acne scars the patient has because each type responds to treatment differently.

There are mainly three types of atrophic/depressed acne scar:

1. Boxcar: 

These are wide, U-shaped scars having sharp edges. They can be shallow and deep.

2. Ice-pick

These are narrow, small round or oval scars and can go deep into the skin.

3. Rolling: 

These are wide scars with rounded edges and an irregular, rolling appearance.

Treatments

The treatments that a dermatologist may use to treat depressed acne scars include the following:

 

1. Subcision:

A dermatologist may lift the scar, bringing a scar closer to the surface of the skin which tends to make it less noticeable. In this procedure, patients remain awake but numb so that they do not feel pain. Subcision is a good treatment option in very deep scars. To obtain the best results, dermatologists usually recommend four to five sessions. 

 

2. Dermabrasion:

This is one of the most effective and common treatments for acne scars. In this procedure, a dermatologist uses a manual or motorized derma abrasion instrument to more deeply exfoliate the top layer of the skin. This is a good option for acne scars that are close to the surface like a shallow boxcar or rolling scars.

 

3. Acne scars surgery:

This sounds scarier than it is. Dermatologists usually perform this minor surgery to treat very noticeable big acne scars. The goal is to create a less-noticeable scar. This is a good option if the patient has a few big depressed scars.

Acne scars may be frustrating to the patients, but there are many treatments that can make these scars less noticeable and Dr. Satish Titoria, a renowned dermatologist can help one to find the right treatment and help to reduce the appearance of acne scars.