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Treatment for Scars Left After Acne Surgery?

asked 2 years ago by 3434 in cyprus
Latest answer by Channing R. Barnett, MD
Question viewed 1,580 times
Tags: age 18-24, cheeks, forehead, redness, scar

I don't know if you understand exactly what a doctor did to me. I think the procedure I had is called acne surgery. I am not sure if the alternate name is comedone extraction--he used needle anyway. He convinced me that he should do this to me. From the first time, my face became totally red, and there was blood everywhere in my face. This situation continued for 3 treatments more (continued breaking the new spots). I changed doctor and did therapy of minaxen pills. Now, I am 21 and I have multiple small, needle-sized scars on my forehead, and some bigger-sized scars on my cheeks, which still look red. Help!

19 answers to Treatment for Scars Left After Acne Surgery?

Extracting pimples does not produce scars

Usually there are no scars after extracting of blackheads or pimples, if done by an professional. I think that you have so called ice pick scars. These scars result from pimples not from the treatment. A fractionated laser like fraxel can help with this condition.

Robert Kasten, MD
Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon

Severe acne can cause scarring--acne surgery usually does not

The inflammation associated with deep, inflammatory acne lesions can cause depressed scars. Extractions of comedones or drainage of cysts usually does not. It sounds like scars on your face are from the condition not the procedure. There are many options for treatment of acne scars including peels, laser therapy, and steel surgery--depending on the size and shape of your scars.

Dina D. Strachan, MD
New York Dermatologist

Active and Deep FX for Acne Scarring

In my experience, the best treatment for acne scarring is fractionated ablative CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser. Active and Deep FX (Total FX), resurfaces the skin and creates collagen regeneration with skin contracture. A second treatment is often necessary to achieve improved results. From El Paso, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Frank Agullo, MD
El Paso Plastic Surgeon

Acne Extractions Don't Usually Cause Scarring

When performed by a professional, acne extractions do no usually leave scars. It sounds like you have routine scarring from your acne which is very common. Based on your description, the scars are likely pitted in nature and require resurfacing or removal treatments to be improved. A lot of doctors mentioned fractionated lasers which in my opinion do not improve these types of scars as much as we would like especially for the money spent. There are other techniques which can... more

Channing R. Barnett, MD
New York Dermatologist

Treatment for scars left after acne surgery

I agree with others who replied. You likely have ice pick acne scars which you attribute to the previous acne surgery but which is likely unrelated to it. The best treatment for this is deep facial resurfacing and punch excisions with repair. The resurfacing does not have to be a laser or with Fraxel and combination treatments work best.

Lawrence Kass, MD
Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon

A clear diagnosis on your acne condition is important

Typical acne treatment, surgical or otherwise, typically is relatively pain free and bloodless. It sounds as though you still have active acne lesions, which should be treated with appropriate therapy. This may include topical agents such as benzoyl peroxide, topical antibiotics, topical dapsone, topical retinoids, topical sulfur products, topical beta hydroxy acids, etc. and the possibility of an oral antibiotic or hormone-normalizing agent, such as spironolactone or oral... more

Melanie D. Palm, MD
San Diego Dermatologic Surgeon

Acne scars following extractions or Acne Surgery

Extractions or rupturing of acne cysts, if done properly, can shorten the duration of inflammation in the skin leading ultimately to less scarring. Alternatively steroid injections can be used to treat acne cysts that are large or persistent. Sometimes what patients think are scars following acne are just temporary areas of hyperpigmentation or brown color that are the result of inflammation in the skin. These spots can take up to a year to go away and can be helped... more

James C. Marotta, MD
Long Island Facial Plastic Surgeon

Most people do not experience sever scarring

Most people do not experience sever scarring following professional acne removal treatments. You might want to consider surgical punch tactics to smooth out your face. This can be performed with minimal downtime. It sounds like the acne, and not the procedure itself, is what is responsible for your scars. Ice pick type scars are uncommon but do in fact happen in patients of all ages.

Sanusi Umar, MD
Redondo Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

First step to a poor result after acne surgery is to let everything completely heal.

It's unclear what was done to your skin from your description. If the skin is still red, it is biologically active in wound healing which should be allowed to come to completion before moving on to some other form of therapy.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Treatment for acne scars

There are many treatments for acne scarring including lasers, chemical peels, subcision, and dermabrasion to name a few. The two most effective treatments are a combination of subcision and fractional laser resurfacing.

Edward Lack, MD
Chicago Dermatologist

Acne treatment scars - what type - raised or ice pick?

It is hard to tell from your treatment history and description of the scars as to what they are. It sounds as though the acne eruptions were needled for drainage. This may have resulted in small hypertrophic scars...or they may have turned into depressed or ice pick type scars. Depending upon their size or depth, the ttreatment options may differ. If they are not particualrly raised or deep, they may respond to laser resurfacing. If they are more than 1 mm in contour discrepancy to the s more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Treatment for acne scars

Acne surgery helps to speed the resolution of acne lesions. It is not a guaranteed "cure" for each acne lesion as scarring may or may not occur based on how large the acne lesion was and how long it stayed. Fractional laser resurfacing is currently the most popular treatment for acne scarring because it has very little down time compared to other laser procedures. Fillers and punch removal techniques are also useful for scars that don't respond to the above.... more

Daniel J. Ladd Jr., DO
Austin Dermatologist

Correction of ice pick acne scars with acne surgery - laser acne surgery

Acne can cause severe and permanent scars, including ice pick acne scars. Laser surgery will not reduce the severity of these scars, but surgical punch techniques and subcision may improve them dramatically. I perform these in my office as an outpatient procedure.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Fractional CO2 Laser Best Option for Acne Scarring

Acne surgery (extraction of symptomatic cysts or comedones) if done appropriately minimizes scarring that would otherwise take place during natural course of acne cyst formation. Cystic or inflamed acne lesions typically are left alone or intralesional steroid injection may be considered. Once the acne activity has subsided and under control, e.g. no more than a couple inflammatory acne lesion per month, one may seek out a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for scar revision... more

William Ting, MD
Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon

The acne scars that you are talking about can occur from regular acne.

The acne scars that you are talking about can occur from regular acne. There are many people with ice pick type of scars. The needle surgery that your doctor did would have helped more than hurt. The expression of the pus from the acne that are infected would have caused much bigger scars if the needle didn't express the pus away. Now with your scars there are many ways to approach them. One is through deep chemical peels that can be applied to the deep part of the those scars. This can help... more

Philip Young, MD
Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Treatment of acne scars

Currently, there are multiple treatments available for different acne scars. Depending on your skin type (light vs. dark) you may be a candidate for a laser or light therapy to treat residual red acne scars. Fractional laser resurfacing is a great therapeutic option with minimal down time and side effects for lighter skin tones. Laser Genesis is another alternative light treatment for patients with darker skin tones. For both light therapies, one treatment is usually not enough. You may... more

Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD
Miami Dermatologist

Acne scars

Scarring from acne is usually best treated by laser devices and or subcision which is using a special needle to break up the scar tissue. The results can be dramatic but you need to be patient as these procedures require remodelling of your collagen to get the final results .

Shawn Allen, MD
Boulder Dermatologist

Laser Resurfacing for pinpoint acne scars

For the type of pinpoint acne scars you are describing, we would recommend some form of laser resurfacing. We usually perform Erbium laser resurfacing but there are several viable alternatives: Erbium Laser Resurfacing CO2 Laser resurfacing Fractional Laser resurfacing

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Acne surgery rarely ever leaves scars worse than they would have been on their own

Comedone extractions with a needle helps to minimize the scars that the acne lesions would have left on their own had the doctor not tried to remove them. The longer they sit there then the more chance of scarring there is.You probably would have been so much worse off without the docs help. Regardless, you need help now and that can be accomplished by dermabrasions or sanding the skin or punch grafts or chemical/laser peels and various skin creams. See a derm surgeon so he can explain all... more

David Hansen, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

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