Acne Scars
The physicians at the Baywood Clinic offer comprehensive treatment for acne and other facial scars
Once the doctor has examined the type and extent of scarring, the following options can be explored:
- Superficial scars can be treated with chemical peels, or the TCA CROSS method, in which tiny amounts of acid are placed onto isolated scars. There are usually a few days of crusting, and several days of mild redness. Several treatments are usually necessary.
- Some shallow, rounded scars can improve with the Smoothbeam laser, usually 4 - 6 sessions a month apart are needed, and improvement can take up to a year to be complete.
- The VBeam laser, which also improves “post-acne redness” and prevents these spots from becoming scars, is often used with the Smoothbeam and can help superficial scars.
- Restylane is a naturally occurring substance that can be injected under scars to lift them. Fat lasts up to 5-7 years, while Restylane usually lasts about a year.
Our Plastic Surgeon can use a variety of methods for deeper scars or for patients wanting more improvement to their acne scars
- Punch excision involves surgically removing the scarred tissue. Once it is healed, the Vbeam is used to prevent re-scarring
- Deeper scarring is treatable with the Erbium Laser. The areas of scarring are treated with the laser. This can lead to significant improvement.
Fat Transfer involves removing small amounts of your own fat from an area like the abdomen or buttock. This is simple and painless. The fat is then placed under the scarred areas, raising them and smoothing the surface of the skin. This, combined with Erbium resurfacing, or by itself, can produce dramatic results.
We use the Vbeam laser to treat these types of scars. It is very important that you come to see us while the scar is still “red”. Usually this means as soon as the sutures have been taken out. We usually treat with 2-3 sessions of the Vbeam, one month apart, and the results can be very significant.
