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Acne Removal Scar Surgery: Laser Surgery

For those who have severe acne you may experience some severe scars as a result. Most of the time you will find that the traditional forms of acne scar treatment such as creams or injection do not work in reducing your acne scars. However, you still have the option of surgical or laser treatments.

Microdermabrasion

Most often people with severe acne scars choose the option of microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion not only reduces the appearance of acne scars, but it also improves the overall condition of the skin. However, you will need at least six treatments of microdermabrasion and one typically occurs every one to two weeks. Microdermabrasion uses small aluminum crystals that create the effect on the skin.

Typically microdermabrasion is used on the face but it has been successfully used on other areas such as the neck, chest, arms and hands. The effects are more noticeable with microdermabrasion than they are with the typical chemical peels that are used for less severe acne. Microdermabrasion is an option for those who do not want to go in for laser resurfacing. However, it does have a longer healing period that laser resurfacing.

The advantages of microdermabrasion treatment are the minimal discomfort, short treatment time, almost no recovery time required, a selective option between conservative and aggressive treatments, it is cheap compared to other acne surgical and laser treatments, and it is safe to use on almost all types of skins. There are only two disadvantages to microdermabrasion which is multiple required treatments and for extremely deep acne scars there may be little or no effect.

A typical microdermabrasion treatment takes about ten to twenty minutes. First the skin is prepared with a special cleanser and after the treatment a special moisturizer is applied ot the skin. For a few hours to a day at the most after the treatment the skin will be slightly pink in color. Additional peels are performed at least twelve days later. If you follow your microderambrasion with a chemical peel the effects will be more noticeable since the ingredients in these peels will help maintain the results of the treatment.

Scar Revision

For extreme acne scars there is the option of surgically removing or excising the scars. This treatment is typically recommended for those with ice pick or boxcar type acne scars. A certified doctor will perform an excision by punch the skin and then closing it with sutures that will be removed about seven days later.

Similar to this is a subcision which uses a sharp instrument that undercuts the acne scar tissue. This treatment is typically used when there are rolling scars present. There is no need for sutures in this surgical treatment procedure.

Laser Treatments

There are two forms of laser treatment for acne scars. These are laser resurfacing and pulsed dye laser. Both of these treatment options use a combination of laser carbon dioxide and/or Yag laser treatments. With these treatments the skin is removed layer by layer so that the scar is effectively removed. As the scar is removed heat is applied to help tighten the skin and help smooth out the area effected by the scar.

Once you have finished laser resurfacing treatments you may not notice results for at least eighteen months. Throughout this time your doctor may recommend collagen injections to help smooth out the scars. Laser resurfacing is often used in combination with other acne scar treatments rather than by itself. This is typically one of the most effective treatments for acne scars.

For serious cases of acne scars a doctor may combine laser resurfacing along with surgical treatment options. When this occurs the doctor will do the surgical treatment first and then six to twelve weeks later being laser resurfacing treatments. This gives the skin the maximum time needed to heal and restructure itself.