Jennifer Chwalek, MD

Hi- Acne scars can be treated with a variety of lasers.  The degree of improvement you see will also depend on the type of acne scar you have and how severe the scarring is.  For this reason it would be a good idea to have a consultation with someone who specializes in laser surgery and who has several devices.  In general, CO2 lasers are the gold standard when it comes to treating scars, wrinkles and photorejuvenation; but there is more downtime associated with a fractional CO2 treatments (than a picosecond laser or nonablative laser). It typically can take weeks even months to see results and depending on how severe your scars are you may need to do a few treatments.  Picosecond lasers have also been used to treat acne scars with some success. With these lasers there is no significant downtime.  There are no published studies comparing both lasers. However, I've used both lasers and from my experience I've seen much more dramatic improvement with fractional CO2 resurfacing. If your acne scarring is more mild you may see improvement with a picosecond laser (but I would expect to do multiple treatments over the course of several months). If you're concerned about downtime with the fractional CO2 you may also want to consider microneedling, which can be a good treatment for acne scars.  Best, Dr. Chwalek

Hi-

It is a little difficult to tell from your photos but based on your description it sounds as if you might do well with several different lasers.  What is more important, are the laser settings that are used.  For this reason, I would strongly recommend you see a physician who is experienced in laser hair removal who perhaps has more than one laser hair removal device.  Occasionally doing test spots prior to treatment can be useful in determining the ideal treatment. Best, Dr. Chwalek 

Hi- 

Thank you for your question.  I've treated patients with scars such as yours with fraxel (either non-ablative or ablative (CO2/erbium)).  This can improve the appearance but it will likely take numerous treatments. I would recommend seeing an experienced dermatologist who specializes in laser surgery to discuss your options.

Hi-

Thank you for your question.  Either microneedling or ematrix can help with the scarring but it will take several treatments over the course of months (I'm experienced with both microneedling devices and the ematrix for acne scars and I've seen good results with both; though I will say you may see faster improvement with a microneedling RF device.).  Some of your scars are ice-pick scars which are difficult to treat and may require a combination of treatments (maybe even some subcision and filler) to improve them. Before starting any treatment, it's important to see a physician who is experienced in these treatments for evaluation. 

Best, Jennifer 

Two weeks is really too early to see much improvement after a resurfacing procedure. As was previously mentioned, it takes weeks, even months for collagen production. Often, especially after an aggressive treatment, it may seem the lines are still present or even worse.  This can occur as the skin heals and dries out. It is important to moisturize regularly in addition to sunscreen.  Consult your doctor about which products they recommend.