LJC is your best choice for plastic surgery and med spa treatments in Southern California and around the globe.
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La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa
9850 Genesee Ave Suite 130
La Jolla, CA 92037
Call: (858) 452-1981 Text: (858) 203-2944
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
La Jolla Cosmetic Medical Spa - Carlsbad
7730 El Camino Real Suite C
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Call: (858) 788-7989 Text: (858) 203-2944
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fade your scars with a little help from your friends at LJC.
Whether from childhood case of chicken pox, teenage acne, skin trauma, or the result of a surgical procedure, scars come in all shapes and sizes—and sometimes they can be problematic.
Whether you’re self-conscious about the way your scars look or they cause you pain or discomfort, there are treatments and techniques for improving their appearance.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
89.3% Patient Satisfaction
* These are actual patient comments verified by a 3rd party. The claims made represent the opinion of the author.
Our San Diego plastic surgeons and laser specialists at LJC are experienced in a variety of safe, effective scar treatments. Which treatment is right for you will depend on the size, cause, location and nature of your scar, your natural skin tone, and your personal needs and goals.
For scars that are unsightly due to color (i.e., they appear red or pink), we recommend the pulsed-dye laser treatment VBeam Perfecta. The VBeam is a non-ablative, gentle laser that works by sending energy wavelengths through the skin that absorb the excess pigment. The VBeam requires little to no downtime, and can be very effective for treating port wine stains, birth marks, and rosacea in addition to pigmented red scars.
BBL (BroadBand Light) therapy is often a great choice for treating brown pigmentation irregularities. Scars that appear white because they lack pigmentation (called hypopigmentation) can be more difficult to treat, and may require a combination of treatments ranging from medication to tattooing to scar excision.
Elevated or “ropey” scars that have formed into a raised or bumpy appearance often respond very well to ProFractional laser resurfacing. The ProFractional laser is a fractionated ablative laser, meaning it removes a fraction of the skin in the treatment area to induce deep collagen remodeling and help the skin heal into a more uniform, flat and normal appearance. Downtime after each ProFractional laser treatment is about 3 to 5 days, and patients typically need 4 to 6 treatments depending on the size, depth and severity of their scar.
Depending on your needs, we may also prescribe or inject a medication such as Kenalog or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which “turns off” scar-forming cells and helps to flatten hypertrophic or keloid scars, as well as reduce pain or itching. Sometimes pressure dressings or topical medications may play a role as well in the scar treatment.
Mild to moderate indented or “crater” like scars can be treated with fillers, such as Restylane® or Juvéderm®, to temporarily fill in the indentation and restore a smoother, more regular appearance. Another benefit of fillers is that they can help to stimulate natural collagen production, which will help your skin naturally build up and reduce the scar depth over time. Sharply defined craters and ice pick scars may be revised by performing a small excision of the scar.
In some cases, surgical excision by one of our board certified plastic surgeons may be the most appropriate option to remove an unsightly scar. While surgery will leave its own scar, the resultant scar from an incision made by a skilled, experienced plastic surgeon should be much thinner and less conspicuous than the original scar and, with proper care, will usually fade very well.
Not sure how to get the look you want? Tell us about your goals, and we’ll show you the possibilities.
Try Our Treatment PlannerFinding the right scar treatment requires the expertise of an experienced skin care professional. Contact us today or request your complimentary consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons or certified laser and skincare specialists at LJC.
Last reviewed by a La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa Editor on January 9th, 2023. Meet Our Medical Editors
Since 1988, more than 36,000 patients have had safe, successful procedures at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa.
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