Scar Treatments

Surgical Scar Removal

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 new 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.

VBeam Laser Treatments for Pigmented Scars

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, birthmarks, 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.

ProFractional Laser Treatments for Raised (Hypertrophic) and Keloid Scars

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.

Treatments for Indented Scars

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 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.

If you are looking for a more permanent treatment option, our board-certified plastic surgeons offer fat transfer with nano fat to rejuvenate the skin. Nanofat is smaller than regular fat and full of growth factors known for their regenerative properties. Our surgeons can give you long-lasting, natural enhancements of unsightly scars.