As our largest organ, the skin lays in a seamless sheet over our body, protecting everything within. When damaged, this organ works hard to repair itself, often resulting in unsightly scars. Burns, acne, injuries, and surgery can all be the cause of scarring.
The board-certified dermatologists at Northwestern Skin and Laser employ various methods to target scars and reduce their appearance. We are happy to set up a consultation to discuss your specific goals and develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
What do these methods treat?
These methods are aimed at improving the color and texture appearance of acne scars, surgical scars, depressed scars, raised scars, red scars, and white scars.
How long is the downtime?
The downtime varies based on which treatment you select, but can be as minimal as slight bruising to around a week of redness and flaking. We will discuss your specific treatment plan at your consultation.
What will I need to do prior to treatment?
We will plan to see you for consultation prior to your treatment. At this time, we will obtain a detailed history and create a treatment plan custom tailored to your individual needs. You will need to avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after your treatment with laser.
When will I see results?
Timeline of results will vary based on the treatment you receive. Filler results are immediate, while results from laser and subcision become more apparent as your skin heals.
Procedures and devices available to treat scarring:
Subcision
Subcision is a treatment that provides a meaningful improvement in the appearance of depressed scars. The process involves breaking up the fibrotic strands the cause the scar to be tethered to the underlying tissues. By carefully breaking up these strands, the body is stimulated to produce collagen, restoring elasticity and improving the appearance of these scars.
Fraxel
Fraxel is a non-ablative laser treatment that utilizes a fractional methodology to help promote healing in the skin. Northwest Skin and Laser uses this system to treat scarring, using it to break up the scar tissues and promote the body’s generation of collagen. Treatment can take only a few minutes up to around 30 minutes, depending on the extent of scarring that is treated. We typically recommend a series of several treatments with Fraxel to obtain optimal results.
Pulsed dye laser
This laser targets blood vessels, reducing the appearance of redness in the scar. This treatment is fast and effective for improving the color of scars. We We typically recommend a series of several treatments with PDL to obtain optimal results.
Dermal Fillers
Commonly used in plumping lips and reducing the prominence of wrinkles, dermal fillers are also able to help improve the appearance of acne scarring, boxcar scars, and rolling scars. The process begins by ensuring the skin is thoroughly cleaned and assessing what scars will benefit from this treatment. Each scar will require a different amount of filler determined by how severe and how large the scarring is. The filler is administered through a needle inserted beneath the area with scarring. The treatment concludes when the desired amount of filler has been placed.
Thousands of patients benefit from acne scar treating every year, and you can start by picking up the phone and calling us at 404-513-6372. Our friendly staff will help you prepare to make the most of your first visit to 676 N St Clair St, where you’ll meet with one of our dermatological specialists like Dr. Murad Alam and Dr. Simon Yoo. Every year we help hundreds of patients address blemishes, scars, and other dermatological issues with our suite of effective treatments. Don’t let unsightly marks keep you from showing off your favorite wardrobe, contact us today and start working towards that beautiful skin you’ve always dreamed of.
