What's the Best One Treatment Option for Acne Scars?

Hi- Both lasers you mention will give you a reasonable improvement in acne scarring. There are also others that would give you just as good an improvement (the DOT and the Mixto SX)- any of these lasers IN THE RIGHT HANDS would be a good option. The important thing is to realize that the well-trained and credentialed health care professional holding the laser hand-piece is infinitely more important to your outcome and safety than the machine chosen. As long as you find a Plastic Surgeon or... more

I would recommend a fairly aggressive treatment with the Fraxel Repair Laser. I have had good success using this laser to treat pitted scars similar to the scars in your photos. I would recommend that this be done by a skilled Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon.

Fortunately, we have many more good treatment options for acne scars today than even a couple years ago. These include lasers, subscision (a minor surgical procedure to release bound down scars), fillers, excisions, along with many other in-office therapies. Which treatment will work best for you depends on many factors: the number and types of scars, the location of the scars on the face, discoloration of the skin, texture of the scar, etc. Often, people have several different types... more

There are a range of methods and tools that can be very effective for treating acne scars. The single most important variable to consider in the skill and experience of the physician treating you. Make sure to select a facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or dermatologist experienced in the treatment of acne scars. Only somebody with appropriate experience and training will be able to guide you to the best treatment strategy. If you and your doctor select a laser to treat the acne... more

Combining DeepFX with ActiveFX (TotalFX) is what I feel is the best option for treating acne scarring. It treats the deeper acne scars (DeepFX) along with resurfacing the skin to improve the texture (ActiveFX). However, you may need more than one treatment depending on the extensiveness of your scarring. Acne scarring is one of the hardest conditions to correct. As my colleagues mentioned above, it is important to find a provider who is well skilled and educated in the treatment of... more

Hi Nigel, I have had great success in treating patients with Fraxel re:pair for acne scarring. I have seen wonderful results after one treatment, but patients need to know that it may take 2 to 3 treatments for optimal results. Deep Fx also gives excellent results as do some of the other fractionated CO2 lasers. I fully agree with Dr. Soto in that you should choose your treating physician most carefully. Fractionated CO2 lasers are not a commodity, but the knowledge, experience,... more