Acne is the most common skin condition, and many people who have had acne wind up with scars. Whether scarring is mild or severe, it can become a lifelong distraction, damaging your self-image and confidence. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Thanks to modern skin rejuvenation technology, you can fight back.
At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we offer three skin treatment options that Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez especially recommends for improving the appearance of acne scars.
Microneedling
Microneedling uses tiny, very fine surgical steel needles to prick the skin to a precise depth, triggering the body’s healing mechanisms to create new cells, blood vessels, and collagen. The renewed skin is smoother and healthier.
Microneedling treats mild acne, reducing the appearance of acne scars on the face and body. Dr. Hernandez recommends microneedling for discolored spots or hyperpigmentation due to picking or scratching, and for scarring which appears as tiny holes often confused for large pores.
Morpheus8
Morpheus8 is a treatment that combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to stimulate new cell production and also tighten the skin’s surface.
Morpheus8 resurfacing is a good choice for treating mild to severe acne and acne scarring on the face and body. The tiny needles stimulate the body’s healing process to reduce active acne as well as improve the appearance of deep acne scars.
Bellafill®
Bellafill® is a unique injectable filler made from bovine collagen and enhanced with microspheres that remain in place long after the initial collagen has been absorbed by the body. Bellafill® stimulates the body’s own natural collagen production in the skin for long-lasting results of 5 years or more.
Once a series of Microneedling or Morpheus8 resurfacing is complete, Dr. Hernandez can use Bellafill® to fill in remaining “holes” from severe traumatic scarring.
The Best Treatment Depends on Your Type of Acne Scars
There are different types of acne scars:
- Ice-pick scars are deep, narrow, pitted scars.
- Rolling scars are broad depressions with a sloping edge.
- Boxcar scars are broad depressions with sharply defined edges.
- Atrophic scars are flat, thin scars or depressed scars.
A series of microneedling and/or Morpheus8 treatments can improve all types of acne scarring by 50%, by stimulating collagen production. The collagen supports new skin cells as they are formed, filling in depressions left by the scars.
Bellafill® combined with subcision (using the same needle as is used to inject the Bellafill®) can also improve the appearance of acne scars by adding volume to depressions. Subcision is a technique that treats deep acne scars by releasing fibrotic strands that adhere the scars to nearby tissue.
Dr. Hernandez notes that most patients undergo radiofrequency microneedling first then Bellafill® injections as needed, because this is a more cost-effective option.
Not Perfect, but Better
These treatment options can do a lot to improve skin tone and texture and smooth the surface, they cannot entirely eliminate the effects of acne scarring. Every patient is different, and it is not unusual to have multiple types of acne scars, which is why a personal consultation is so important. Once Dr. Hernandez has a chance to see your acne scars and discuss your goals, she can recommend the treatment that will be most effective for you.