Can this sunken scar below my eyebrow be fixed? (Photos)

Question

This is a very fresh scar, not even a month old. I already have an appointment with a costmetic derm in a couple of weeks but can’t stop having mental break downs over the indent. It is a burn mark. What can be done? Is this something that can be mostly erased??

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I want to start by saying this gently and clearly: you are still in the very early stage of healing. A scar that is less than a month old — especially from a burn — can look much more indented, discolored, and alarming than it will look a few months from now. What you’re feeling emotionally is completely valid, but medically speaking, this is far from the final result.

Fresh burn scars often go through a phase where they appear:

more sunken

more red or dark

more sharply outlined

more textured

This happens because the collagen framework is still reorganizing and the tissue is still inflamed and contracting. Remodeling continues for many months.

What can be done right now (early phase)

At this stage, the goal is to support healing and prevent worsening:

Silicone gel or silicone sheets can help regulate scar formation

Gentle moisturization and barrier protection are important

Strict sun protection is critical to prevent permanent discoloration

Avoid aggressive treatments too early — the tissue is still fragile

Early aggressive procedures can sometimes make a fresh burn scar worse, not better. Timing matters.

What can be done later if indentation remains

If a true depressed scar remains after the scar matures (usually reassessed around 3–6 months or later), there are several effective options:

Microneedling or RF microneedling to stimulate collagen

Fractional laser resurfacing

Scar subcision (to release tethering under the scar)

Small amounts of filler to lift an indentation

Surgical scar revision in select cases

Most depressed scars can be significantly improved — often softened and blended — though “completely erased” is rarely a realistic medical promise for any scar. Improvement, however, is very achievable.

About your current distress

I want to acknowledge this part directly: early facial scars — especially near the eyes — can trigger a lot of anxiety and emotional distress. What you’re reacting to right now is the acute healing appearance, not the final outcome. In dermatology, we see many scars that look dramatic at 3–4 weeks and look far less noticeable at 3–4 months.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

Sorry that this has happened to you, but the good news is that you are seeking help at the right time to achieve optimal improvement. Since the late 1980s we have known that the greatest chance for potential erasure of an imminent scar is if treatment is performed between the end of week four after the injury (or surgery or infection), when the wound is strong enough to withstand treatment, and the end of week twelve after Injury (after which the scar is considered "mature") and the potential for improvement falls to between sixty and eighty percent. 
I have been performing subcisions since 1995 with gratifying results for elevating and smoothing all kinds of indented scars from all causes. I am happy to hear that you are consulting with a cosmetic dermatologist and at the right time. Best of luck.

Can this sunken scar below my eyebrow be fixed? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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