Atrophic scars are often quite old, often enlarged and thinner than the surrounding skin. These scars leave an unsightly hollowed area of varying size.
This scar atrophy may be spontaneous, or may follow local treatment with corticosteroids.
Atrophic scars can occur anywhere on the body. On the face, they are often post-acne scars, which account for a large proportion of the atrophic scars we treat.
Atrophic scars are often quite old, often enlarged and thinner than the surrounding skin. These scars leave an unsightly hollowed-out area of varying size.
This scar atrophy may be spontaneous, or may follow local treatment with corticosteroids.
Atrophic scars can occur anywhere on the body. On the face, they are often post-acne scars, which account for a large proportion of the atrophic scars we treat.
In some cases, we may propose a surgical revision: the scar is removed and a new one created.
This technique can be effective, but it is somewhat risky. The new scar is necessarily a little longer than the old one, and atrophy may well recur. The result may not be as good as the initial situation.
Volumizing products such as hyaluronic acid or fat can be injected into the scar. This procedure is regularly effective in treating the hollow nature of the area. It does not treat any redness and has no smoothing or erasing properties. What’s more, the effect is not permanent, and regular re-injections are required. In the case of hyaluronic acid injections, the main advantage is the regular simplicity and swiftness of the treatment.
Atrophic scars are the indication of choice for fractional ablative or non-ablative lasers such as the Fraxel laser.
Deep heating of the skin induces new collagen synthesis, which fills in the area to be treated. On palpation, the scar looks more like normal, denser skin. Visually, the dermabrasion induced by these lasers improves the aesthetic appearance of scars, even making them disappear in the case of the finest and smallest scars.
These lasers are therefore particularly suitable for this indication. However, in the most difficult cases involving large, deep scars, laser-induced improvement may be only marginal.
Fraxels Dual and Repair lasers are the most effective lasers for not only fighting acne scars, but also preventing skin aging and reducing fine lines and wrinkles on the face.
Examples of results obtained after 4 Fraxel non-ablative Dual laser sessions on deep cheek scars..
Fraxel laser for the treatment of acne scars
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Since setting up my own business, I have spent 4 years taking additional university courses focusing on aesthetic and restorative medicine.