Would microneedling work on a spot left by a laser from mole removal 6 weeks ago? (photo)

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Microneedling is a safe, in-office procedure also known as collagen induction therapy. The procedure acts to rejuvenate your skin by stimulating the body to produce new collagen and elastin. Microneedling is safe to be used on the face as well as the body. In our office, we use microneedling to target stretch marks, acne scars, wrinkles, surgical scars, burn scars, large pores, and discoloration. It can also help to reduce the redness and texture of your scar from the mole removal. A minimum of 3 treatments is usually recommended to achieve the full effect of the treatment. After your first 3 treatments, you will begin to experience the benefits of this minimally invasive procedure. Many patients keep up with their maintenance microneedling treatments every 6 weeks. As always, a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon experienced in facial rejuvenation will help determine the appropriate procedure for you.

Thank you for your question, yes, microneedling will definitely help with the scarring left from the procedure. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist for after care. I recommend Silagen + Bioshield to promote healing. Any scarring can be improved with lasers and microneedling/prp. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

The short answer to a question such as this, i.e. can microneedling be successfully employed to diminish post treatment (or post-surgery, post-trauma, etc.) erythema (redness), is "Yes!", especially if combined with redness suppressing agents, such as brimonidine, oxymetazoline and tranexamic acid. I use it for this purpose all the time. The ideal time for treatment is usually about eight weeks following the treatment when the wound is sufficiently healed to withstand the treatment.  However, your question raises a couple of other important issues worth noting. If indeed a true mole (a nevoid lesion) was removed, then hopefully a small sample was sent for biopsy to confirm that the mole was entirely benign. You should check on this, since destructive procedures, like lasers, cautery, electrodesication, cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen should be performed, even for aesthetic reasons, on a true nevoid lesion only AFTER the biopsy sample has been removed.  

Hello and thank you for your question.  Microneedling is a great treatment to stimulate collagen and improve tone and texture of the skin.  For scarring  a series of treatments will be needed.  Typical number is anywhere from 3-5 treatments, depending on your response.  After your microneedling treatments you may need to follow up with  IPL laser treatments to reduce redness.  Typically 2-4 treatments are needed.  Make sure area is completely healed and talk to your surgeon regarding follow up care.  Good luck to you, hope this helps. 

IPL or another vascular laser (Vbeam, Excel V) combined with microneedling can be used to address redness and textural changes associated with scars. 

First of all, thank you for your question and photo! And Yes, microneedling is a great adjunctive treatment. It can be combined with IPL treatments which can target redness (post-inflammatory erythema) and the microneedling can even out the texture of the scar. Keep in mind that both procedures take a few treatments to see optimal results. Hope this helps!