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A chemical peel procedure involves the placement of a strong acid onto the surface
of the skin to remove the top layers. Medium chemical peels are a much less expensive
option, costing between $150 and $500 for each treatment, but it does require repeat
sessions. The substances used for a medium chemical peel are very strong and must
be applied by either a dermatologist or an aesthetician. Chemical peels are only
meant for the removal of minor imperfections and will not remove the more serious
scars. Additionally, multiple acne scar treatments are required for actual results.
Side effects for medium chemical peels include redness, irritation, increased risk
of sunburn, tight feeling in the skin, peeling or flaking, and darkening of the skin.
Recovery is typically a week and involves the skin changing from pink to a darker
tone and then finally peeling. Always use sunscreen and dress appropriately for sun
exposure when undergoing medium chemical peels as an acne scar treatment.
Abrasive is the keyword in this acne scar treatment that involves using a diamond,
wire wheel brush, or sandpaper to remove the top layers of skin through friction.
This treatment is known to remove top scars and reduce the more serious underlying
scars and can be used as a follow-
Side effects include darkening or lightening of the skin that can sometimes be permanent,
friction lines on the skin, raised scars, sun sensitivity, eczema, dilated blood
vessels, and pain. Additionally, infection can occur, so take plenty of vitamin C
and only use an experienced professional for the treatment. After this acne scar
treatment, petroleum jelly and a dressing will be applied to the skin for up to four
days. The skin changes from crusty to normal after two weeks and there may be a lasting
windburned effect for up to nine months.
There are three commonly used punch techniques, each one chosen for a particular
kind of acne scar. Each form of surgery costs between $250 to $300 per scar. 1) Punch
excision, is the surgical technique of removing the scar and then suturing the skin
around the scar back together to form a smooth surface. 2) Punch elevation, is an
acne scar treatment used to release boxcar scars from the lower levels of tissue
and allow the scar to float back to the normal skin level. 3) Punch grafting, involves
removing larger scars and then replacing the removed skin with fresh skin, usually
taken from behind the ear.
Side effects for punch technique acne scar treatments include
bruising, scabbing, raised scars, smaller but less noticeable scars, and raised skin.
Recovery includes the removal of sutures after one week and complete healing after
two months.
Augmentation is a more conservative acne scar treatment used for boxcar and rolling
scars. During the treatment, a dermatologist injects an FDA approved filler material
into the skin under the scars to raise the skin back to the normal surface. Materials
used can include bovine collagen or fat from elsewhere within the body. There are
no permanent filler materials, so patients require re-
The side effects for this acne scar treatment include pain at the injection site,
skin color changes, bruising, allergic reactions to the filler, infection, raised
scars, undesired movement of the filler, and error on the part of the doctor. Recovery
is fast, with the patient being asked to limit face movement for 24 hours after treatment.
This helps prevent the filler from spreading to undesired areas of the face.
Skin needling/rolling is an effective acne scar treatment for rolling scars and involves
a process known as collagen remodeling. During this process, a tattoo gun needle
(with no pigment) is injected into the skin and punctures the lower tissue levels.
The body’s natural response to this puncturing is to send fresh collagen to heal
the skin. This collagen raises the acne scar and levels out the skin. The treatment
costs on average $150 to $500 per session and results are typically achieved within
two sessions.
Because this procedure does not actually harm the skin’s upper layer, recovery and
side effects are minimal including brief bleeding at the injection site, redness,
swelling, and temporary fluid retention. Redness and swelling go away within three
days of treatment and final results of the procedure are seen after twelve months.
This is how long the body takes to rebuild collagen levels.
Hypertrophic scars require special treatments to break up the scar tissue under the
skin. One such acne scar treatment is the use of steroid injections. Simply put,
a steroidal medicine is injected into the scar. The steroid stops the inflammatory
response of the body, causing the scar to lower back to the same level as the skin.
Repeat injections are always required with this procedure at a cost of $50 to $100
per injection.
Recovery for this treatment is minimal, with the results of the injection
becoming completely visible in 6 weeks. There are, however, many side effect that
can happen with this acne scar treatment including bruising, dilated blood vessels,
allergies, killing of skin cells, and other underlying tissues, darkening or lightening
of the skin, and atrophy.
When hypertrophic scars are extreme, dermatologists are willing to take extreme measures
to reduce the size of the scar. Cytotoxic injections are just such an extreme in
the world of acne scar treatments. For this procedure either an anticancer or strong
antibiotic is injected into the scar along with steroids to dissolve and lower the
scar. This procedure costs between $100 to $150 per scar and typically requires between
three and five injections to be completely effective.
There are only two side effects
found with this treatment, pain at the injection site and darkening of the skin.
There is no necessary recovery time for the procedure, as the injections do not damage
the actual skin layer. If the procedure is done with steroids, there is still the
possibility of steroid-
Cryosurgery is commonly associated with the removal of warts and moles, but is just
as effective at removing raised acne scars. This acne scar treatment involves freezing
the scar, which kills the skin tissue and results in the scar being sloughed off
of the skin’s surface like a scab. This procedure typically costs $75 to $150 per
scar and usually requires at least two but as many as 10 sessions for full removal.
Side effects for this acne scar treatment include lightening of the skin, pain, blistering,
swelling, skin atrophy, darkening of the skin, and occasionally bleeding or fainting
during the procedure. This procedure does not typically use local anesthetics, so
it can be very painful as the freezing liquid may have to remain on the skin for
as long as 10 minutes. Recovery takes three weeks during which time the blistering
from the procedure heals and the scar disappears. If any pus or oozing sets in, contact
the physician as there may be an infection at the procedure site.
In Conclusion
Acne scars do not have to be tolerated or embarrassing. Modern medicine has made multiple ways of removing scars from anywhere on the body with much success. While the methods of how to get rid of acne scars vary based on the type of scar and complexity of surgery, the goal remains the same; healthy, even looking skin that is free of acne scars. The key to remember about acne scar treatments is to be patient with the results and allow the body plenty of time to heal from the procedures.
Fractional lasers are the weakest form of laser treatment and require as many as
four to five treatments to completely heal scars. This procedure costs on average
$1,000. During this procedure, the skin is still numbed with a local anesthetic and
then a finer laser is used to resurface only specific and small fractions of the
skin.
Side effects for this treatment are much less than the other two types of laser
treatment including some scaling and crusting, swelling, and temporary darkening
of the skin. Recovery is only two to five days for swelling with full recovery of
the skin returning to normal coloration and texture within two weeks.
Subcision is a surgery type acne scar treatment that takes advantage of the body’s
own natural healing ability. During the procedure, the scar is cut away from lower
levels of tissue. The area under the scar then fills with blood and clots. The clotting
later changes into connective tissue stabilizing the scar up to the surface of the
skin. This type of acne scar treatment is effective on rolling scars and costs between
$500 to $750 depending on the doctor and the extent of the procedure.
The recovery for this surgery is two weeks during which time there is bruising and swelling present in the skin. Possible side effects from this acne scar treatment include bruising, raised scars, scar recurrence, and discoloration of the skin. This procedure is usually done along with dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.
Laser resurfacing using an Er:YAG laser is considered a gentler form of acne scar
treatment than with the CO2 laser. This treatment can cost the same as the CO2 laser,
ranging in price from $3,000 to $6,000. During the acne scar treatment, the skin
is numbed using a local anesthetic and a laser is passed over the entire scar area
up to three times. For small areas, the treatment only takes a few minutes, for larger
areas such as the back or torso, this acne scar treatment could take more than an
hour.
Side effects of this more mild acne scar treatment include oozing at the surgical
site, darkening of the skin, lasting redness, and swelling. Typically, the dermatologist
will provide a salve that can be used to soothe and heal the skin after treatment.
Depending on how deep the doctor penetrated, a bandage may be applied and must be
changed out regularly for up to a week. The skin may continue to appear pink for
up to three months after laser resurfacing.
Laser resurfacing of the face is a form of acne scar treatment that laterally removes
layers of skin that contain scars, allowing new skin to form. This treatment can
be expensive, ranging in price from $3,000 to $6,000. During the acne scar treatment,
the skin is numbed using a local anesthetic and a laser is passed over the entire
scar area between one and three times. For small areas, the treatment only takes
a few minutes, for larger areas this acne scar treatment could take more than an
hour.
Side effects of the acne scar treatment include crusting or oozing at the surgical
site, darkening or lightening of the skin, lasting redness, eczema, additional acne
or other cysts, and dilated blood vessels. As with any surgery, there is always a
risk of infection, so always take plenty of vitamin C prior to the treatment. After
the procedure, the skin must remain covered for three days with full healing taking
up to three weeks. The skin may continue to appear pink for up to three months after
laser resurfacing.
How to Get Rid of Acne Scars Fast?
12 Surgical Acne Scar Treatment Reviews
Acne is a skin infection that affects most adolescents. In serious cases, damaging scars can be left behind after the infection is gone. As with any scarring, acne scars are permanent unless surgically treated. Thankfully, dermatologists have made extensive progress in acne scar treatment, the results of which can be dramatic for acne scar sufferers.
Not all treatments are alike, nor is every treatment right for every patient, so it is always best to consult with a dermatologist before pursuing treatment. This article will review and discuss 12 modern surgical methods to get rid of acne scars fast.
Content of this Page
1. CO2 Laser
2. Er:YAG Laser
4. Subcision
6. Dermabrasion
8. Augmentation
12. Cryosurgery
