Dermabrasion For Acne Scarring

Laser Therapy To Clear Acne Scarring

There are two types of therapy in use to correct skin problems associated with acne.

Ablative Laser Therapy (Laser resurfacing)

Laser resurfacing is used for correcting many skin problems, among them acne scarring. It is a  controlled burning procedure during which a laser vaporizes upper layers of facial, and in doing so, removes acne scars and rosacea. This type of laser procedure creates a fresh surface over which new skin can grow.

The procedure is not for the faint-hearted – it is performed under local anaesthetic , and you should expect to have bruised, swollen, oozing and crusty areas of skin which will need to be cared for and dressed for 7-10 days.

Post-operative risks include scarring and hypopigmentation, or permanent lightening of areas of the skin which have been treated, possibly leading to a patchy appearance. Darker skinned people need to be especially aware of this risk.

As you can imagine, this is not a treatment which can be carried out by the inexperienced.  Laser resurfacing should only be carried out by a qualified surgeon with experience in this area – it’s just not worth making economies on this one.  To be honest, if any surgeon offers you this type of laser therapy as a first choice, you should be both yourself and him/her why.  With the risks as high as they are, and there is no real reason why this should be preferred over non-ablative laser therapy (see below).

Cost : $2750 - $4750

 

Non-Ablative Laser Therapy for Scarring

This less aggressive form of laser therapy is fast replacing the ablative form since it does not penetrate the skin as deeply. Post-operative effects are minimal, with mild redness and temporary changes in skin tone being commonly reported.

N-Lite
Fraxel
CoolTouch
Smoothbeam / Smoothbeam video
 

The downside of all laser therapy

While the results of these procedures can be startling for some people, others will be disappointed that the appearance their scars has not improved as much as they'd hoped. We have already talked about the post-operative risks, both temporary and permanent.
 

Cost: $2750 - $4750
 

Comparison of Scar Treatment Procedures

Procedure	Mild Scars	Severe Scars	Side Effect Free	Affordability
Superficial Peel
Mid-Deep Peel
Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion
Dermaplaning
Ablative Lasers
Non-ablative Lasers
Punch Techniques
Augmentation
Topical Creams

See Also:

Chemical Skin Peels
Acne Scar Creams
Microdermabrasion
Dermaplaning
Dermabrasion
Punch Techniques
Augmentation