Collagen Injections for Facial Scars?

There are different types of acne scars. Some appear as little pits and some are bound down with scar tissue. These depressions CANNOT be elevated by collagen or any other type of filler. The filler will simply disperse around the scar tissue. The way to tell if collagen will work is by placing your fingers on either side of the acne scar and "stretching" out the acne scar. If the depression resolves that gives you an idea of what the collagen will do. This type of acne scarring,... more

Successful treatment of acne scars usually involves using several different techniques, layered on top of one another. For instance, deep acne scars may require subcision (to raise the deepest part of the scar), filler (to further plump up the scar and return it to normal skin level), and light resurfacing, to smooth out any skin texture irregularities around the acne scar. By using a combination treatment approach, I have been able to achieve results impossible to attain by using any one... more

Yes, if the scar is one that can be raised up. Physicians who treat these scars should check before hand to ensure that the scar can be elevated by a simple examination in the office. There are better fillers for facial scars than the old cow-hide collagen injections. There is human collagen (Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast) and hyaluronic acids such as Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. Isolagen is currently undergoing the last phase of United States FDA trials. If approved, this will allow... more

Hi Morgan, Collagen can help, but it doesn't last very long and will need to be repeated every couple to few months. Restylane or Juvederm will last a bit longer. A long term fix is possible with laser resurfacing (fractional CO2, Fraxel restore, CO2), but this will be more expensive, may require multiple treatments, and will require some social downtime. Take care, Dr. Groff

Morgan, Collagen or other filler injections can be very helpful with depressed scars. Without examining you or seeing a picture, it is hard to answer the question with specificity. However, anytime there is a depressed area, putting fillers underneath it can be very helpful. The filler can be collagen, any of the HA products, Radiesse or even your own body fat. Find a good dermatologist or plastic surgeon in your area and they will be able to help you.

Injectable fillers are an excellent treatment option for many chicken pox or acne scars. The treatment is relatively simple; can be done in one appointment, and is relatively inexpensive compared to surgical alternatives. The downside is that the improvement is not permanent and may not work as well if the scars are "bound down." Regarding the "permanence" issue, the improvement following dermal fillers, like Restylane and Juvederm, tends to last longer than the... more

The answer is yes injectable fillers can help with the scaring but fillers are temporary. Laser resurfacing may be a better and more permanent solution to the problem.

I see many patients with acne scarring, which is a similar process to chicken pox scarring. Pixel laser resurfacing works very well to smooth out these scars. I also use scar subscission, and injection of filler materials for the deepest scars. A new topical collagen treatment (Purigenex) also works well to help smooth out scars without injections. 

Hello, Soft tissue filler injections like Collagen can be useful, but are quite temporary. My preference is to revise scars if possible. Fillers need to be repeated every few months and therefore become more expensive in the long run. A good scar revision provides permanent improvement.  Best Regards!

Acne and chicken pox scar management is a science in and of itself.  There are many new and innovative treatment options, including facial fillers, acne scar surgery, dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser, and skin resurfacing. One of the most effective treatment remains subcision of the scars.  

Chicken pox scars are due to tetthering of the skin to the underlying soft tissue, and also due to soft tissue atrophy. Sometimes fillers in the deep dermis or subcutaneous space can help lift the scar. SOmetimes the scar may need to be excised or lasered to flatten the hills to meet the valleys of the scarrring. There are better fillers than collagen that can fill the deeper space. This includes Juvederm and Restylane to name a few.