Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars

asked 3 years ago by jonnyboi in Cherry Hill, NJ, USA
Latest answer by Eugene Mandrea, MD
Question viewed 10,994 times
Tags: acne scars

How effective is Laser resurfacing for clearing acne scars? I don't really care about the downtime, but the cosmetic results are very important. What number of treatments do you recommend? I'd prefer if I only have to get it done once.

11 answers to Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars

Laser resurfacing for acne scars

We are treating acne scars with different modalities, For regular, boxcar acne scars, we use either the traditional CO2 Laser (7-9 days downtime) or the fractionated CO2 laser (2-3 days downtime). Usually 2-3 treatments with the fractionated laser are equivalent to one traditional laser treatment. For large, deep boxcar scars, we use punch elevation followed by CO2 laser resurfacing (traditional or fractionated). For ice pick scars, we use Chemical Reduction Of... more

Eugene Mandrea, MD
Chicago Dermatologist

www.lakeviewderm.com

Laser Resurfacing

Resurfacing is effective for acne scars, but one treatment is sometimes not enough. Be cautious about trying to do too much with one treatment. Unless you are very light in skin color, your risks will climb rapidly and you will risk skin discoloration, and either loss of color or increase in pigment color, especially if you have an ethnic background.*

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD
San Francisco Dermatologic Surgeon

www.elitemdspa.com

Acne Scar Treatments

The Most effective treatment that we use is Microfractional Plus. This combines the ability of an Erbium laser to sand down the ridges on the edge of the scars and and the tightening, smoothing and pigment reduction of the Micro fractional Carbon dioxide laser. This can ruduce the appearance of scars up to 90%. We then follow up by raising the remaining depresions with Fillers, such as Restylane

Michael Tomcik, MD
San Ramon Dermatologist

Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars

Your question has some important points: you don't care about downtime; you prefer to have the procedure done only once; you want to get some significant cosmetic results. There are many options available. Best option is to see a dermatologist with laser surgery experience. An ablative laser procedure, such as an erbium YAg laser resurfacing procedure, might be a good alternative.However, first, the doctor needs to evaluate your acne scars, skin type, risk of scarring, pigmentation, etc... more

Andrew Kaufman, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon

Acne scars require customized approach for best results

In my office, Charlotte Skin & Laser, I use a variety of treatments to best treat acme scars - often several different treatment methods in the same patient in either the same or separate sessions. These can include lasers, undermining or subcision, punch excision, TCA to ice pick scars, fillers or injections for raised areas. The most often utilized lasers are the vbeam for red scars and the non-ablative Fraxel restore.

Elizabeth F. Rostan, MD
Charlotte Dermatologist

Laser for acne scars

Acne scars have always been a very difficult problem to treat, but in my opinion, laser resurfacing is one of the best options. While different physicians will have different opinions about the 'best' treatment, I have had excellent success with a Total FX treatment (a fractionated CO2 laser). Keep in mind that depending on the severity of the scarring, you will likely require multiple treatments. Seek multiple consultations, in order to make the most well-informed decision.... more

Ryan Greene, MD, PhD
Fort Lauderdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Fractional CO2 for acne scars

The other doctors that posted here make good points, but I have been thrilled with the results of the fractional CO2 for acne scars. Of course, your skin type will dictate the available treatment, but I have successfully treated darker skin types using this laser.

Ryan N. Heffelfinger, MD
Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing for acne scars

Unfortunately there is no 'best' laser for acne scars. The treatment plan for acne scars is often a multiple treatment approach, sometimes involving lasers and sometimes involving surgical procedures. The type of laser used or the type of procedure used will depend on the type and extent of acne scars that a patient may have. Consultation with a surgeon who performs multiple treatments is your best option to determine what may work best for you.

D.J. Verret, MD
Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing and acne scars

There are many different wavelengths/strengths of lasers that can be used to destroy the top layer of the skin over acne scars to promote wound healing and smoother skin. Currently pixelated/fraxilated lasers are in vogue to puncture micro holes in the skin leaving small areas of normal skin surrounding (less down time). As the small wounds heal from the inside out- the skin gets smoother and the scars are lessened in appearance (we never say "clearing" as this is not a... more

Purvisha Patel, MD
Germantown Dermatologist

Non-ablative laser resurfacing more effective for acne scar removal

Newer fractional non-ablative erbium 1540 laser resurfacing is better for treating acne scars than is ablative erbium or CO2 laser resurfacing. That is because the ablative lasers remove skin from both the normal surface of the skin and the surface of the depression inside the acne scar. Unlike sanding a depression (scar) in apiece of wood, where the surroiunding surface is feathered and the depression (scar) eventually becomes less noticeable, with ablative laser resurfacing, skin surface... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Laser Resurfacing for Acne Scars

The simple answer is that this question is not so simple. The first issue is what type of scars are involved. We treat pigmented (brown or red) and textured (bumpy or indented) acne scars very differently at our practice. In addition, the type of treatment recommended depends on the skin type of the patient. Generally speaking, we use the following treatment methods for acne scars at our practice. Pigmented (Red) Acne Scars - Cynosure V-Star Laser Treatments. This is generally for light... more