Scars are visible reminders of previous surgery or accidents. They may be raised, flat, depressed, red or lighter in appearance than surrounding skin. Acne scars may resemble pinpricks or pockmarks. There is a variety of therapeutic modalities for scars on the face and body.
Laser treatments are becoming an increasingly popular technique for scar management. Dr. Lynn Klein and our team at Aesthetic Dermatology use laser therapy to improve the color and texture of noticeable scars without disrupting the surrounding healthy tissue. In some cases, laser scar revision can also improve physical symptoms such as pain and itching.*
For more information or to learn whether laser scar removal could be right for you, please contact us online or call 610-668-2570 to schedule a consultation with our board-certified dermatologists.
How Laser Scar Removal Works
With laser scar treatment, the top layer of skin is removed to smooth out the texture of a raised or uneven scar. Fractional laser energy is used to make tiny injuries in the deeper layers of skin, which kickstarts the body’s natural healing process and the production of new collagen and elastin for healthier-looking skin.*
What to Expect from Laser Scar Treatment
The timing of laser scar removal depends on the extent of the injury and how well/quickly it has healed. Smaller scars can be treated at virtually any time, whereas large, surface-area burns should heal for several months before beginning scar treatment.
Laser scar revision is performed in our office on an outpatient basis. Anesthesia is not generally required, but a topical anesthetic cream may be applied for preemptive pain management. Total treatment time varies, but may last as little as 30 minutes, depending on the size of the scar.
Different types of lasers are used for different types of scars. An ablative fractional resurfacing laser can treat a thick hypertrophic or keloid scar, or even out the edges of a depressed scar. A non-ablative Q-Switched Nd:Yag laser can treat the blood vessels and inflammation of a highly pigmented scar.*
Recovering from Laser Scar Removal
Laser scar treatment does not require significant downtime. After treatment, you can resume normal activities. The treated area may initially look red or mildly swollen, but this is temporary. We will prescribe or supply a special cream to apply to the scar as it heals.*
Typical Laser Scar Revision Results
Laser scar revision can make rough or raised scars flatter and less prominent. It can also even out the color of pigmented scars.
Possible Laser Scar Treatment Side Effects
Side effects of scar revision are rare. Occasionally, a patient experiences bruising or bleeding after treatment. A small number of patients have prolonged redness, lightness or darkening of the skin.
Learn More about Laser Scar Removal
If you’d like to learn more about laser scar revision and see whether this treatment can help you meet your personal cosmetic goals, please contact Aesthetic Dermatology online or call 610-668-2570 to schedule a consultation with our board-certified dermatologists at our Bala Cynwyd practice.
*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
Telephone No.(610) 668-2570