Treatment options for body scars? (Photo)

Question

I have what appears to be ice pick / box car and rolling scaring along the middle of my chest. I'm interested to know what treatments would be recommended. Would it be the same going about facial acne scaring?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

I have been treating these kinds of issues, particularly of presternal acne scars, for many years. 
Ice pick scars there do well with TCA CROSS, and boxcar and rolling scars respond well to subcision. Your biggest task is finding an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist who specializes in these treatments, since unfortunately, so many treatment venues have gone over to hawking expensive "bells and whistles" fraxel laser and RF treatments whose science to back up their use lags woefully behind the heavy marketing hype and social media buzz to promote them. So, do your due diligence to make sure that you find an appropriate, experienced scar treatment specialist. Best of luck.

Treatment options for body scars? (Photo)

Answers (2)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Scar Removal Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Treatment options for body scars? (Photo)

Answers (2)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Scar Removal Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.