Here are some of the common questions patients ask who have already tried acne scar treatments:
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How to choose the right treatment for my acne scar?
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I had a laser treatment, why did it not treat my acne scar completely?
Continue reading below before you plan to avail of another acne scar treatment.
Laser treatment can’t cure acne scars on its own.
The reason why is simple:
Laser treatment, even the expensive ones, can’t treat all types of acne scar at every depth
Not even Erbium, Fractional CO2, and Fraxel, which all are high powered lasers.
Disclosure: I am not degrading Laser treatments, nor am I anti-Lasers. My clinic has more than five lasers for treating Acne Scars, including the ones mentioned earlier.
The primary purpose of this content is to help you save time, money, and pain as we will be sharing the practices of each Acne Scar treatments in Singapore.
How to Effectively Remove Acne Scars?
Traditionally, Fractional Ablative Lasers such as Erbium lasers or Fractional CO2 is the first option. However, some patients are still not satisfied with the results.
Below are some factors that will help you decide on:
3 New Ways in Treating Acne Scars
1. Regenerative Treatments will Lead the Way
2. Subcision + Filler – All-in-One Acne Scar Solution
3. Think Greater than Laser Treatments
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Lasers are just one of the useful tools in acne scar treatments.
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There are other effective acne treatments such as Chemical peels, manual techniques (Punch excision, Subcision), Regenerative treatments, and Microneedling RF.
What is an acne scar?
Acne scars are fibrous tissues that develop after an injury or inflammation on the skin. These fibrous tissues contain abnormal and damaged collagen fibers, which result in the skin not looking at its healthy appearance.
Types of Acne Scars
There are SEVEN types of acne scars. Keloids, atrophic, and hypertrophic scars are the most common ones. Atrophic scars divide into three distinctions: box-scar, ice-pick, and rolling scars.
Regenerative Acne Scar Treatments – Leading Scar Treatments in Singapore
Regenerative technologies are widely used by professional acne scar doctors to improve the healing of the scar. When regenerative treatments combine with lasers, there is a better improvement in the acne scar healing results, and downtime shortens by 50%. Regenerative acne scar treatments have other benefits, including anti-aging effects.
What are the Common Regenerative Acne Scar Treatments in Singapore?
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Hyaluronic Acid Fillers – Stylage, Juvederm, Belotero, Restylane
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PDRN – Rejuran Healer, Rejuran S
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Cytokines and Growth factors – AnteAge MD
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Platelet Rich Plasma – unavailable in Singapore
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Calcium hydroxyapatite – Radiesse
After a Subcision treatment, these regenerative compounds inject into your skin.
Subcision + Filler
This treatment method works effectively for tethered acne scars. Subcision breaks down the old scars, which then delivers healing compounds like Rejuran to the scar. Subcision + Filler regenerates and remodels your skin in one treatment.
DermaSculpt® Micro-Cannula Subcision
I am the official trainer of DermaSculpt micro-cannula, and I specialize in subcision utilizing micro-cannula. I prefer this method as it gives fewer side effects, and it has the shortest downtime.
Subcision vs. Lasers
Skin doctors use Subcision to treat deeper acne scars. Lasers, on the other hand, treat injuries that are skin-deep. Results from subcision treatments like Subcision + Filler are immediate and can be permanent. The reason why lasers give results slower than subcision is due to the collagen production that takes weeks.
MicroNeedling Radiofrequency – Effective for Deep Acne Scars
Intensif, INFINI, Profound RF, Intracel, and Secret RF are some of the brands of MicroNeedling Radiofrequency. This treatment is technically a non-laser energy device proven to treat acne scars effectively worldwide.
Fractional Lasers & MicroNeedling Radiofrequency – Differences
Fractional Lasers such as Erbium Lasers and Fractional CO2 can reach 1.5mm deep into the skin. However, Micro-needling Fractional RF delivers energy up to 5.0mm deep. It is why I prefer to us Micro-needling Fractional RF for deep acne scars for effective results. In some cases, I combine the two treatments to enhance treatment results. Micro-needling is also safer for darker skin complexion.
Fractional Non-ablative Lasers vs. Fractional Ablative Lasers
Erbium Lasers or Fractional CO2 are known as the gold standard for skin resurfacing laser treatments. These lasers treat the outer and inner layers of the skin. Fractional non-ablative lasers are only able to manage the dermis. Although having less downtime, Fractional Non-ablative lasers are not as effective as Fractional Lasers.
Insulated MicroNeedling Radiofrequency
INFINI is the first insulated Microneedling Fractional RF in the whole world. The treatment’s critical success is its insulation of micro-needles that delivers radiofrequency energy into the skin.
One of the Safest Micro-Needling Fractional Radiofrequency
Insulated micro-needles only create minimal damage to the outer surface of the skin, which reduces the risk of PIH (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation).
Heals Faster
The insulated needles that penetrate the outer surface of the skin also give quicker recovery compared to Erbium/ Fractional CO2. Downtime usually lasts 1-2 days, unlike Erbium/Fractional CO2 that has 2-4 days of downtime.
The Precision of Acne Scar Treatments
1. Punch Excision – Removes Scars Permanently
Punch Excision includes using a small, cookie cutter-like tool that punctures the outer layer of the skin to remove the scar physically. We use this treatment when scars cannot treat subcision, lasers, TCA CROSS, and Microneedling RF.
2. TCA CROSS Deep Chemical Peel to Treat Ice-Pick Scars
TCA CROSS is an effective treatment for deep scars and ice-pick scars. We treat Ice-Pick Scars with a high concentration of TCA to break down the scar tissues.
360º Acne Scar Treatment – Personalised & Precise
Delivering a Personalized and Precise treatment is what I always aim in every acne scar I encounter. I use a customized combination of the latest technologies and lasers to ensure that each scar will receive the best procedure. I usually combine three treatments during one session for a more effective and faster acne scar removal results.
Expected Improvement for My Acne Scar
Improvements from acne scar treatment programs can reach an average of 90%. Each program, depending on the patient’s skin type and severity of acne scar, takes about 3-12 months for full completion.
Customized Treatment for your Acne Scar
Each patient who has acne scar issues have their own distinct acne scar treatment. Some of my patients have wondered why the 360º approach, even though being quite useful, is not that widely used. Many experienced doctors in Singapore utilizes this approach, but here are three reasons why it’s not always the first option:
1. Limited selections of lasers/technology
Acne Scars clinics must have the latest fillers, lasers, and peels. Most clinics only have one to two kinds of laser devices. All the mentioned equipment can be quite expensive, which makes some clinics unable to attain the full range of acne scar treatments.
2. Can be a Time-consuming Process
From the consultation to the treatment procedure and healing process, the 360º approach may consume a lot of time.
Consultation
We give the patient a detailed discussion for the doctor to understand their preferences, goals, and lifestyle habits.
Treatment Planning
There will be a meticulous manual mapping and photography of each acne scar to build the treatment plan.
Scar Assessment
Scar assessments include manual palpation of the acne scar for the doctor to determine its depth.
Treatment
Subcision takes 3x longer compared to Erbium Laser or Fractional CO2. Although INFIN Fractional Micro-Needling, which is an energy-based device, can take as long as a Subcision treatment. It is due to the multiple passes of the device at different depths.
3. Expertise in Acne Scar Treatment
Tools and equipment must have upgraded or replaced with the latest versions for enhanced improvements. But the treatment solely relies on the doctor performing the procedure. The latest brands of acne scar treatments require doctors to have in-depth knowledge of the weaknesses and strengths of each treatment method. If you want to learn more about acne scar treatments, I am a featured expert in DoctorXDentist, and you can read my article there.
Sozo’s Acne Scar Treatment Price List
Mechanism: Combination of the most suitable treatments
Scar Type: All
Price: Ask Now
Mechanism: Jet Pressure Subcision
Scar Type: All Scars
Price: From $800
Mechanism: Microneedling Radiofrequency
Scar Type: Deep Rolling, Atrophic scars
Price: From $850
Mechanism: Injectable Collagen Stimulator
Scar Type: All Scars
Price: From $500
Mechanism: Fractional Non-ablative Laser
Scar Type: Shallow Rolling, Atrophic scars
Price: From $450
Mechanism: Fractional Ablative Laser
Scar Type: Shallow Rolling, Boxcar scars
Price: From $450
Mechanism: Nanofractional Radiofrequency
Scar Type: Shallow Rolling scars
Price: From $500
Mechanism: Mechanical Breakdown of scars
Scar Type: All Scars
Price: From $400
Mechanism: Chemical Breakdown of Scars
Scar Type: Deep Ice pick, Boxcar
Price: From $300