The best part about laser for acne scars is that it’s safe. Laser treatment for acne scars is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that you can have it done in the comfort of your own home or office. There are some risks involved with the procedure, but these are extremely rare and can be mitigated by choosing a reputable practitioner and doing your research before getting treatment. In fact, most people who choose laser for acne scars have no side effects at all!
The main side effect of laser treatment for acne scars is sunburn. You should avoid getting any sun exposure on the face within two weeks of having a treatment because this could cause damage to your skin. You should also avoid using topical retinoids or salicylic acid products on your face during this time since they may irritate your skin further and delay healing. Other than that, there aren’t any other significant risks associated with this procedure!
Acne is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, affecting mostly the face, neck and back. Around 1 in 10 adolescents have it, while around 3 in 10 adults do. There are many treatment methods, from oral medication to non-surgical (laser) surgery and we’re going to see where laser treatment for acne scars stands. Read on to learn more about the cost of laser scar removal and whether laser treatment for acne is good or bad.
Is Laser For Acne Scars Safe
Laser acne treatment can help to reduce the appearance of acne scars, but the results can depend on a lot of different factors. The treatment can’t make a scar disappear completely, but it can make it much less visible. Read on to learn more about how this treatment works and how effective it can be for acne scars.
Laser Scar Removal Before and After
Laser acne treatment can tackle acne scars by re-surfacing the skin or removing the affected part of the skin.
This type of acne treatment can be used on mild to moderate acne scars that have caused pitting or an uneven skin surface. Laser treatments for acne can also help with pigment changes caused by acne over time. Once the skin heals, the surface should be smoother and more even than it was before, even if the scar is not completely gone.
The laser treatment works by using light energy to remove skin cells from the surface and/or to stimulate the production of new skin cells and of more collagen in the skin. The effects can be targeted to the affected areas, making this a more precise treatment than dermabrasion or chemical peels.
When you have laser acne treatment, your skin will first be numbed with an anaesthetic cream. The laser is a beam of light that will be focused on the scars. You won’t feel much during the treatment, but your skin can feel sore afterwards because of the way the laser works. It will remove the outer layer of the skin in the scars so that new skin can grow back. The laser can also break down some kinds of discolouration and stimulate the natural healing processes in the skin cells.
It is usually best to wait until your acne has cleared up before you try acne laser treatment to get rid of any scars. You will also need to be prepared to have multiple treatment sessions and to look after your skin carefully while it is healing. Keeping out of the sun and ensuring that your skin is clean will prevent complications such as infections and help you to get the best results from the treatment.
How Effective Is Laser Treatment for Acne Scars?
Laser treatment can be a very effective treatment for acne scars, but the results can vary for different people. The treatment is most effective for mild to moderate scars, so if you have very deep or extensive scarring it may be necessary to look at other options like surgical excision instead.
- Laser acne treatment can be up to 90% effective when it is used on mild to moderate acne scars
- Most patients should expect at least a 50% improvement in the appearance of their scars
- Additional treatments can be performed before or after the laser treatment to enhance the effects on deeper scars
The effects of laser treatment can vary a lot and there is no guarantee that the scars will be completely gone. In fact, it is impossible to eliminate an acne scar completely using this method. A certain amount of damage will remain, but when the treatment works well the scars will be much less visible. Other people might not be able to tell where your acne scars are and you should also find them much less visible.
Most people will see a noticeable improvement in their skin after laser treatment, so the scars should look smoother and be less obvious. In the best cases, the scars can almost completely disappear. However, you won’t see immediate results when you have laser treatment. It’s important to have realistic expectations about how your skin will look during treatment and what kind of results you can expect in the long term.
RESULTS OF LASER TREATMENT
The results of laser treatment will take some time to appear. Since the treatment works by re-surfacing your skin, you should expect your skin to look rough and red after each treatment session.
Some of the common side effects after laser treatment include:
- The surface of the skin will appear rough and damaged after each treatment session, but it should heal within 3-10 days
- Some redness can persist for up to a couple of months after the skin has healed
- The skin colour can look a little different after laser treatment, but this is usually only temporary
- There is a risk of skin infections, but serious infections are rare, and the risk can be minimised by following your dermatologist’s skincare instructions
Once the treatment is complete and the side effects have faded, you should be able to see some changes in your skin. However, it can take up to 18 months for the full effects to become apparent. Your skin will need time to heal and produce new collagen in order to create a new, smoother surface where the scars have been treated.
How well your skin heals will depend on the depth of the scar, but it can also vary from person to person. The best results are expected when the scars are shallow and there is plenty of elasticity in the skin. If the scar can be stretched by gently pulling on the surrounding skin, this is a sign that it is likely to heal well after laser treatment.
Since the results can be different for everyone, it is important to discuss laser treatment with a trustworthy and experienced dermatologist before deciding if it is right for you.
Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Before and After
Laser treatment surely cures acne scars and pigmentations, but not completely to 100%. Patients require to have a couple of sessions/sittings to get rid of most of the scars and pigmentations. A patient taking good care of the skin can have better results with the laser treatment.
Board-certified Dermatologist Dr. Rohit Batra, DermaWorld Delhi explains how Dermal Fillers can be used to favorably treat acne scars.
What are Dermal Fillers?
Has your acne resolved but scars remain?
This probably makes you feel like the acne never really has gone when the proof of timeline of pain and anxiousness remain inscribed on your face.
Not to worry, we have news wonderful to make you jump with both feet in. Yes, we have got a rescue for your acne scars in form of— dermal fillers.
Dermal Fillers for Acne Scars
Dermal Fillers exhibits highly favorable results in refining the appearance of acne scars by lifting up the indented, depressed scars. Their effect is however not permanent to last lifelong.
The outcomes can last from between a few months to a year receiving fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Perlane, and Belotero, etc.
However, with a combination of laser resurfacing such as the CO2 fractional non-ablative and quite fruitful chemical peels and microneedling, have the potential to literally make you swamp in the seat and not just letting the amazing results pass you by.
This combination treatment will effectively treat and confiscate certain types of acne scars. It can help drastically decrease the visibility of acne scars in addition to enhancing overall healthy, happy skin texture and tone.
Are there any Complementary Treatments?
Facial fillers can also be often combined with laser, sometimes with 1064nm Limelight IPL to correct the skin tissue, soften the scar and deteriorate itchiness.
Depending on the patient, execution of autologous growth factors through biological skin therapies such as PRP to encourage neocollagenesis can be considered.
Long-Term & Short-Term Benefits of Dermal Fillers for Acne Scars
The benefits of facial fillers include:
- Lifting up the scars up to the surface of the skin making it even
- Break up the scar tissue to reduce the apparentness of the scars over time
- Boost collagen production for contoured, younger skin
- Almost immediate results and limited after-the-treatment downtime
- Needs fewer, less aggressive procedure
- Continued improvement over the next few months post procedure.
- Results last from several months to year.
Utility of Dermal Fillers for Acne Scars
There’s no secret that once the acne scars are invisible to the naked eye, confidence is also likely to boost.
Dermal fillers for acne scar removal render short-term and long-term benefits to skin patients, and though if the standalone treatment isn’t suitable for your type of acne scars, there are other treatment options in combination available for acne scars at DermaWorld, Delhi aesthetics practices.
Preparing for the Dermal Filler procedure–Prevents you to put off by
Before the filler treatment, an aesthetic doctor will review your personal medical history as well as family history. This is the time for the dermatologist and patient to discuss expectations, potential side effects and outcomes of the procedure.
And you must set your expectations realistic and the real results surfaced will be overwhelming only.
Patients should inform their provider if they recently have taken any:
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Prescription medicines
- Herbal supplements
- blood thinning supplements or medication
Before Making any Decision regarding Dermal Fillers for Acne Scar
It is recommended that you book in first for a consultation and scheduling the procedure for a later date. This is a common practice, particularly if you aren’t familiar with injectables.
This gives you sufficient understanding and time to scrutinize all your options and select your best for an informed decision instead of a spontaneous one.
Dermal Fillers Process: needles no more would make you feel squeamish
During the procedure, the suggested filler will be injected below the scars. In the session, based on the size and indentation of scars, around 0.5 ml of filler will be injected into the applicable scarring, and in a matter of minutes, it will be all over with virtually no pain.
You might feel a little prick as the needle is introduced into your skin, and then a pressure as the filler is propelled beneath the scars.
Non-permanent hyaluronic acid-based fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are commonly used to treat depressed scars, deep wrinkles, fine lines and pitted skin and are usually for those wanting a long-term fix.
Shedding the Saga of Unnatural Outcomes by Permanent Fillers
Dermatologist at Derma World disapproves of the frequently circulating conception of permanent filler to resulting in an unnatural look.
The notion is that (which is not correct at all) as we age, the location of our skin tissue and bones changes, too, and thus permanent fillers that (gradually wear off after around 6–18 months) would fall short to accommodate thesechanges,s which leads to unnatural look.
Asserting hyaluronic acid-based fillers as a viable option for treating a number of scars, these are particularly useful if scarring is secluded rather than widespread.
Injecting an acid-based filler beneath an atrophic scar puffs up and lifts the affected region resulting in a more even structure, finish, reversing the damage caused by inflammatory acne.
“Moreover, development of natural collagen is often prompted as a healing response after the injection, which can further enhance the appearance of the skin and renewal of skin cells.”
It even pays to take the figure and formation of the scar into consideration, too: “Broad, rolling scars oval in shape, depressing the skin in a sort of wave respond best, whereas ‘ice pick’ scars which are more triangular, narrow scars that forms pits within skin deep and boxcar scars, reminiscent of chicken pox scars, more square-looking can be trickier to treat.”
Do Dermal Fillers Work on All Types Of Scars?
“Ideally people with depressed acne or traumatic scars can see the most desirable results. As per certain clinical studies, patients with eyelid retraction following a defiant eyelid surgery have shown significant improvement with internal scarring as it aids the skin and thrust up the retracted lower eyelid – this is known as hyaluronic acid gel stent.”
What Type of Filler is Best?
There are a few types of fillers that offer the best results for specific acne type:
Hyaluronic Acid Gel Fillers
These facial fillers are relatively less inflammatory. For best results and most natural appearance, skilled dermatologists employ a hybrid approach while injecting (HA) fillers. Injecting (Allergan Voluma. Juvederm, and Volift) fillers with high and medium consistency within the scar – at different layers.”
Made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that organically forms occurs in your body—fillers such as Belotero, Radiesse, and Restylane are the best choice facial fillers for scars caused by acne, depression, injury or lines while improving the texture of your skin.
The time period that any filler lasts depends on site of injection as well as the gravity/severity of the scar being treated. Radiesse lasts for around 15 months to 24months while Restylane remains in effect for 6 to 9 months. Belotero should minimize the of appearance acne scars for about 9 to 12 months.
Collagen Based Dermal Filler
Bellafill is the first FDA-approved facial filler formulated for repairing moderate to severely indented, pitted scars caused by acne and injury.
“The gel is made up of two components: {80% collagen}, Profuse protein in the human body, commonly occurs in the skin, muscles, bones and tendons— provides instant correction in the scars by raising them up and replacing vanished volume and {20% polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)} having great degree of compatibility with human tissue helps body to produce more protein, further allowing the skin to fill the scars from the inside out and heal itself.
How long Dermal Filler Results Last?
A likely pitfall of treating scars with filler rather than resurfacing treatments is that the filler will organically be soaked by the body after several months and the apparentness of the scar will resume to how it was before the treatment.
Principally patients would need maintenance sessions every six months or so, everything depending from your skincare routine to your diet.
All soft-tissue fillers are temporary, creating corrections to last anywhere from 6months to 24months, depending on the type of filler and procedure. Most people may need touch-up treatments to obtain the expected results.
Complications with Dermal Filers
Earlier, the most frequently used facial fillers were based on collagen and sometimes needed pre-test for any allergic reaction before beginning with the treatment, though allergy is highly rare for these fillers. A newer category of soft-tissue fillers is hyaluronic gel acid fillers and their newer version is based on a sugar occurring naturally in human skin. You can expect after the procedure one or more of the given reactions at the injection
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Reddening
But that all should go away on own. However, avoid heavy acid-based facial massages and exfoliation until your doctor feels it’s appropriate.
What Makes Fillers Different? Game-changing acne scar treatment
Soft-tissue fillers though not new but are particularly remarkable since it contains different ingredients that function in isolated ways for facial corrections and scars.
Who Can Use It?
- Recipient needs to be over 21
- Unlike lasers, fillers are suitable for all skin types and tones—however, not on any type of scar.
- Treatment is most fruitful on new scars as well that have been there the longest. Postpone injection in case of any active cuts or cysts
Soft-tissue fillers work better with some types of scars than they do to others. Hence for your ideal pick, visit dermatologist Rohit Batra @ DermaWorld, Delhi, India.
Best Laser for Surgical Scars
Acne Scars: Causes & how To Get Rid of Acne Scars
Acne Scars-Overview
Acne scars are usually caused due to the blemishes being inflamed as a result of skin pores having dead skin, excess oil and various bacteria. As the pore swells, it causes a break in the wall of the follicle, this forms lesions or scars that are quite minor, and they do heal quickly. Deeper breaks in the wall pore allow infected material to move into the surrounding tissue, and create deeper lesions or scars. The skin does attempt to repair this skin damage by the formation of new collagen. But, these repairs do not seem the same as the original skin.
Various kinds of acne scars include –
- Box car acne scars
- Ice pick acne scars
- Rolling, atrophic, and depressed acne scars
- Mixed acne scars
- Red acne scars
- Keloid scars
Out of the above, there are two types of acne scars viz.
Hypertrophic or Keloid scarring
When the body produces too much collagen for acne wounds to heal, it forms a bump or raised tissue on the surface of the skin.
Atrophic Scars
These scars are formed when there is tissue loss in the skin. Atrophic scars can be classified into two type’s viz. Icepick and Boxcar.
- Icepick scars are smaller in size, but do form holes in the skin
- Boxcar scars are depressed areas that are round or oval in shape with angled sides
Laser Treatment for Acne Scars Cost
Scars are proof that you’ve healed from your injuries: cuts, burns, past surgeries, or other physical traumas. But the healing process may leave behind a coarse or lumpy welt that makes you unhappy. If you’re unsatisfied with the look of a scar, a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or esthetician can advise you on treatment options.
Scars can never be fully removed, but they can be minimized. For facial scars like the ones from cystic acne or chickenpox, a dermatologist might suggest treatments such as laser scar revision, a chemical peel, dermabrasion, dermal fillers, or steroid injections.
State-licensed professional estheticians, working in salons or spas, focus on beauty and skin care. They sometimes treat superficial facial scars with chemical peels or laser treatments.
Medical estheticians typically have an esthetician’s license plus additional training. They work alongside physicians in dermatologists’ offices or plastic surgeons’ offices. They may have specialized knowledge of pre- and post-surgical treatments that support healing.
Larger or more severe scars — from car crashes or past operations, for example — might require plastic surgery. Surgical procedures can make the scar blend in better with the surrounding skin.
Read on to learn more about the cost of common scar-revision treatments.
How much does scar treatment typically cost?
It depends. Many different treatments exist to reduce or minimize a scar, and their costs vary widely.
Factors that affect the cost of a scar treatment include:
- The scars themselves: type, size, severity, and number
- The procedure(s) used
- The number of treatment sessions
- The type of provider: doctor or esthetician
- The market prices in your local area
Types of scars
There are several different kinds of scars:
- Keloid: Tough, fibrous scars that can be thick, red, and itchy and tend to get larger
- Hypertrophic: Red, raised scars that don’t go away
- Atrophic: Sunken spots that are often the result of acne
- Contractures: Puckered tissue — sometimes from burns — that may restrict the movement of muscles and tendons
Based on the types of scars and their severity, your doctor or esthetician might recommend one or more of these procedures:
- Chemical peels: These medication solutions are applied over a surface scar to lift away damaged skin.
- Cryotherapy: Often used for keloids, this involves freezing scar tissue with liquid nitrogen. It’s similar to freezing off a wart.
- Dermal fillers: These gel-like substances are injected under the skin to add volume to atrophic scars.
- Laser resurfacing: Concentrated pulses of light precisely remove a thin layer of skin and stimulate collagen growth to smooth acne scars.
- Pressure therapy: If you’ve had keloid surgery, wearing compression bandages constantly can make the scar less likely to come back.
- Skin grafts/flap surgery: Contractures and other complex scars may require skin grafts from another area of the body (such as the thigh) or flap surgery — transplanting skin, fat, and blood vessels from a healthy part of the body to the injured part.
- Steroid treatments: These injections can shrink the size of keloid or hypertrophic scars.
- Surgical excision: A plastic surgeon can cut out excessive scar tissue to improve the skin’s appearance.
What’s included in scar treatment costs?
Among plastic surgeons in 2020, the average fee for laser skin resurfacing was $2,509 for ablative procedures (which remove the top layer of skin) and $1,445 for nonablative ones. For surgical scar revision after breast procedures, the Aesthetic Society reports an average plastic surgeon fee of $1,209.
For surgical scar treatments, the doctor’s fee is only part of the cost. Other charges may include:
- Hospital or surgical facility costs:Usually outpatient, except for severe cases.
- Anesthesia fees: Depending on your procedure, you may be given topical or general anesthesia.
- Prescription drugs: Could include medications for pain or wound care.
To avoid surprises, ask upfront about all additional costs.
Prices are much lower for smaller scars or for scars that don’t need surgical correction. For acne-related facial scarring, you’d likely see a dermatologist. The doctor might treat those scars with a chemical peel, filler injections, or laser treatments.
- The average cost of a cosmetic chemical peel is $400.
- The cost of injectable fillers (like Juvederm or Restylane) for indented scars ranges from $600 to $2,000 per syringe.
- The cost for each laser-treatment session can range from $400 to $2,500.
For a chemical peel, the average cost is $519 among plastic surgeons, while an esthetician at a spa or salon might charge $100 to $200.
Is scar revision worth it?
Scar-revision treatments can have a variety of benefits, such as:
- Restoring flexibility and function to scarred skin, muscles, or joints
- Relieving an itchy scar
- Filling in pitted or indented scars
- Reducing the size of large, uncomfortable, or unsightly scars
At the same time, scar-revision surgery has its risks, including:
- Discoloration or swelling of the skin
- Fat necrosis (death of fatty tissue deep in the skin)
- Further scarring
- Need for additional surgical revisions
- Numbness or changes in skin sensation
- Persistent pain
- Poor healing of incisions
- Recurrent looseness of skin
- Skin loss
Whether or not to have surgery for scar revision is a big decision. Any type of surgery has risks of its own, such as those from anesthesia, bleeding, clotting, and infection.
Nonsurgical scar treatments have risks as well, including:
- Incomplete results, requiring repeat treatments
- Peeling
- Redness
- Skin irritation
- Unsatisfying results
What to ask before treatment
It’s a good idea to prepare a list of questions to ask your provider about your scar treatment options. The goal is to learn whether scar-revision treatments are likely to be worthwhile for you.
Here are some queries to start with:
- Can my scar be improved with treatment?
- What are the best nonsurgical treatments for my scar?
- Would surgical treatments be appropriate for my scar?
- Will I need only one treatment, or several?
- Is my scar likely to be visible after treatment?
- How much improvement in my scar is reasonable to expect?
- What kind of post-treatment care will my scar require?
Does insurance cover scar treatments?
Usually not. If your scar revision is cosmetic, be ready to pay the entire cost out of pocket. However, if your scar or scars resulted from an injury or currently impair your ability to function, insurance may cover some or all of the treatment costs.
Medicare doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery but does cover plastic surgery that’s needed to recover from an accidental injury. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) office in your area can help you figure out your options.
Medicaid may cover scar treatments that are documented to be medically necessary. To take one example, in North Carolina, Medicaid covers keloid excision or scar revisions — if your doctor affirms that the scars significantly impair your physical function in ways that can be improved with treatment.
According to North Carolina’s Medicaid policy, scar-related issues that could qualify for medically necessary treatment include:
- A rapid increase in scar’s size
- Breathing problems
- Communication problems
- Distortion of nearby body parts
- Eating or swallowing problems
- No response to steroids or pressure treatment
- Pain, infection, or fluid drainage
- Visual impairment
Check with your state’s Medicaid office to see if your situation qualifies you for coverage.
You may be able to finance scar surgery either through your plastic surgeon’s payment plan, a medical credit card such as CareCredit, or a healthcare loan like Prosper. Shop around for the best interest rate. You may get a better rate on your credit card or a personal loan than a medical loan. If possible, it’s often wiser to avoid going into debt by paying for cosmetic scar treatments with your savings.
How Long Do the Benefits of Scar Treatments Last?
Whether the results of scar revision last forever depends on the type of scar, how your body heals, whether you get post-surgical treatments (such as pressure bandages or steroids), and other factors. You may need further treatment. Or, your scar may fade forever until it’s almost invisible.