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Scar Treatment

Overview

What causes scarring?

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Scarring can be the result of a burn, injury, surgery, or even acne. Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process and, although a scar may never completely disappear, there are treatment options that can help minimize its size and appearance.

Watch Dr Schlessinger Discuss Acne Scarring

Scar removal procedure options

Surgery

For deep scarring, scar surgery remains an excellent option for scar treatment/removal. The aim is to manipulate the skin in order to replace the large, depressed scar with a smaller, less noticeable one. This procedure is invasive in nature and may require a period of downtime depending on the extent of the surgery.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

An IPL, also know as pigmentation therapy, treatment can help to diminish the appearance of discoloration or redness from scarring and improve the look of dark spots from post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The gentle, non-ablative treatment uses broad-spectrum light to treat the skin. IPL and lasers are generally not effective on darker skin or tanned skin so it is important to let us know if you have been in the sun or have darker skin prior to scheduling a visit for evaluation.

Botox or Dysport usage after a surgical procedure

Scars heal better when the area treated is at rest. That’s why botulinum toxin may be used to prevent or improve the look of a healing scar by limiting the motion of the area. It is mainly useful on scars located on the forehead because this area is able to easily be put at rest and not affect any other movement, but there are areas of the body outside the forehead where Botox is used for scar improvement as well.

Microdermabrasion | DiamondGlow

DiamondGlow, also know as microdermabrasion, is an exfoliation and skin rejuvenation treatment that involves gently resurfacing the top layer of skin. The treatment provides the best results for those with shallow depressions but is temporary in nature and unlikely to change any scars on a long-term basis. DiamondGlow is performed by our licensed clinical Aestheticians and requires no surgery or anesthetics and can provide an improvement without downtime.

Fraxel laser resurfacing and CO2 laser resurfacing

Fraxel is a semi-ablative procedure that is based upon the skin’s own healing process. Microscopic laser wounds are spaced across the skin to initiate new collagen growth and repair. Most patients see an improvement in scarring, with more improvement over time. The treatment requires a rest period of about seven to 14 days in some cases. Though the results are not permanent, they last significantly longer than other procedures. CO2 laser resurfacing is done mainly after surgery, often within seven weeks of the initial suturing. This is an outstanding option when planned surgery results in less favorable results or if a scar heals poorly despite the best of efforts.

Fillers

Well-placed hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane ®, Restylane Lyft ® and JUVEDERM® can make a big difference when it comes to diminishing or ‘popping out’ depressed scars. Similar to how these fillers can help plump the skin and fill in wrinkles, they can also help fill scars. This quick procedure allows you to resume normal activities immediately. Depending on the area being treated, the results can last for six months or more in some patients.

Subcision

Subcision releases scar tissue from tethering fibrous bands under the skin, diminishing the appearance of depressed or indented scars. By releasing the bands that are holding the skin down, collagen production is stimulated and there is an improvement in the appearance of the scar. This is often used in conjunction with fillers.

Peels

Chemical peels improve the appearance of mild scarring by exfoliating and resurfacing the topmost layer of skin. This is usually a temporary effect. Using exfoliating ingredients like glycolic and salicylic acids, peels retexturize skin, revealing a smoother, more vibrant complexion. Depending on the strength, these treatments can be done every two to four weeks. Peels are not as effective on deeper scars.

Accutane

Accutane (isotretinoin) is one of the most effective treatments Dr. Schlessinger uses for acne. It is best used when the acne is still active and scars haven’t fully healed. It is imperative to use this drug early in the course of the scarring as it is excellent during that time period but ineffective if the scarring has completely healed. Most insurances cover its usage, which is not the case with all of the other treatments for scarring.

Retin-A | Tretinoin

Also known as Tretinoin or Renova, Retin-A is a prescription-only vitamin A cream that helps to increase the rate of cell turnover and stimulate healthy collagen production. It is often prescribed to treat acne and wrinkles, and it can also improve the appearance of acne scarring over time. Superficial acne scarring may benefit the most from Retin-A creams, and side effects may include temporary dryness and peeling. These prescriptions are available at Schlessinger MD and are a great addition to your skin care regimen.

Before & Afters

These are unretouched photos of Dr. Schlessinger’s own patients

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Q&As

Your commonly asked questions answered.

How can scarring be treated?

Acne Scarring

Scars can be treated in a number of different ways, including surgery, Accutane (for acne scarring), Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and even botulinum (Botox or Dysport) treatments in the course of a healing incision. Other treatments such as DiamondGlow, fillers, Retin-A, and over-the-counter treatments can be used to find the best outcome for a healing scar. As a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon who has been active in laser treatments since 1992, Dr. Joel Schlessinger has the knowledge and experience to determine the best course of scar treatment for your unique needs.
How does scar removal work?

Scar treatment surgery can be performed using one or a variety of these techniques. The aim is to manipulate the skin so as to replace the large, depressed scar with a smaller, more camouflaged one. Depending on the extent of your treatment, there may be a period of recovery, perhaps lasting two weeks or more.

During your consultation, Dr. Schlessinger can discuss methods and care instructions for your unique treatment plan. While many options exist, none are perfect and there is no one single answer for the best method as it all depends on the situation, the cause of the scar, and how long it has been present. Generally, it is best to treat scars early on in the process so it is better to be seen earlier rather than later. In many cases, early treatment will save thousands of dollars in costs and sometimes be the difference between success and failure in the course of the treatment. When it comes to acne, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is always best to treat acne at the time to avoid scarring as there are few things that can improve longstanding acne scars effectively, but treatment at the time can make huge differences in the outcome.
What you need to know before a scar removal procedure.

Scar removal is unlikely to occur in most cases, but treatment and improvement are clearly possible. Some scars are easier to improve than others. During your consultation, it is important to discuss your goals for treatment, as well as your ideal amount of downtime. This is also a good time to discuss the preparation and aftercare regimens that different treatments entail. Dr. Schlessinger will use this information to help determine the best treatment option for your specific needs.

While Dr. Schlessinger is very solution-oriented, he is also extremely ethical and will always try to give an idea of the likelihood of success and whether treatments are worthwhile pursuing. He believes it is also important to evaluate any elective removals prior to the procedure and make sure that the possibilities of a poor scar are reviewed with the patient or their family.
What results can you expect with scar removal?

Dr. Schlessinger can discuss scar removal expectations at your initial consultation in his Omaha, Nebraska office.

It is best to consider scar treatment a long-term process and approach it with cautious and realistic expectations as results may vary and scars don’t usually respond well to treatments after they have healed.

“Laser can improve scars quickly, but they have to be treated shortly after the scar happens. It is incredible to see the transformation in scars when treated early.”

Scar Treatment