To many, their physical appearance contributes a significant amount to their confidence and the way they carry themselves. Understanding the importance of self-presentation, one makes an effort to improve their look to strive for an ideal image of themselves. When it comes to the skin, smooth and youthful skin is the visual indicator of closing into that ideal.
However, not many have the privilege of having great skin. Majority of us are still plagued with skin issues, even in adulthood. According to a study done by Windsor Clinical Research and Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, an estimated 9.4% of the world’s population is affected by acne alone, making it the eighth-most prevalent disease worldwide. Whilst it is commonplace and there are efforts to normalise the stigma surrounding them, it still does not mitigate the blow on one’s confidence and self-image.
To tackle these issues, we may have sought help from home remedies and over-the-counter medications, but even then, it might not be sufficient. It may be all right if you can cover skin issues such as hyperpigmentation with make-up, but that may not be an option for more evident and tangible problems like deep acne scars.
Fortunately, we have reached a stage in the advancement in cosmetic studies and technology, and you can now use treatments to solve such issues. In particular, subcision acne scar is an excellent treatment to look into!
Know Your Acne Scars
Before you can choose the type of treatments to undertake, you will need to understand the reason why and how acne scars are formed. Acne is an inflammatory skin condition where sebum produced by sebaceous glands gets clogged along with bacteria and dirt. In situations where they don’t get treated right, you may be left with persistent scarring.
There are several types of scars, but they are typically sorted into two camps: hypertrophic and atrophic acne scars. Hypertrophic scars are generally thick lumpy scars on the skin. Atrophic acne scars, or more commonly known as depressed scars, are much more prevalent and they are subcategorised into three: icepick, boxcar and rolling. Icepicks are more profound and narrower compared to boxcar and rolling scars and thus are the most obvious and severe.
To those who suffer from depressed scars, don’t feel discouraged, as there are acne scar removal treatments to improve the texture of your skin.
How does Subcision work to treat acne scars?
Subcision acne scars treatment, also known as subcutaneous incisionless surgery, is a surgical technique used to manually break the fibrotic strands that attached itself to the subcutaneous tissue deep within the skin layers. It starts by inserting a hypodermic needle through a puncture and produce subcuticular cuts. This will release the depression and promote a natural healing process that will promote collagen production, repair and recovery of skin texture.
In most cases, the results from such treatments are excellent. 2 to 4 visits are adequate to remove moderate scarring, and it’s recommended to leave at least one month in between sessions.
That being said, subcision acne scars treatment is only suitable for specific individuals. Should you have skin conditions such as skin infection or prone to hypertrophic scars, it is advised to seek other forms of procedures to remove your acne scars. The treatment is also not advisable for those who have a blood disorder or subscribe to anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, to reduce the possibility of excessive bleeding and infection. If you are not sure whether you are eligible, ask your dermatologists before proceeding with any acne treatment.
FAQ
1. Can I merge other acne procedures with Subcision treatment?
Subcision acne scars treatment is flexible in a way that it can be performed alongside other types of procedures such as derma fillings and laser treatments. A combination of acne scar removal treatments is advised as one does not just have one type of acne scarring. Thus, you might need to subscribe to a few different types of procedures to get rid of your acne scars completely.
2. Is treatment painful?
At our clinic, local anaesthetic is used before the procedure. There may be some slight swelling and tenderness experienced after subcision; however, we will do our best to ensure that pain is kept to a minimum.
3. What are the side effects of subcision?
Haematoma, a type of bruising, may occur. You might also experience temporary post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Thus, you are advised to put on sun protection creams with high SPF. Majority of the redness and inflammation will go down after 2 – 3 days.
With over 20 years of experience treating acne scars, our doctors are well-versed in techniques to try and minimize such concerns.
4. How long must I wait to see results?
In majority of cases, acne severity will improve by 1 – 2 grades, 6 months after the surgery.
5. Am I an ideal candidate for the procedure?
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for the subcision treatment, consult us today by simply giving us a call!
We also offer a plethora of other acne and acne scar treatments, and will be able to fully customise a treatment plan just to tackle every skin concern you have with lasting results!