Cosmetic Scar Improvement is for those fine, faint scars left behind after cosmetic or surgical procedures, where the scar is already healed but you'd simply like to make it lighter, finer and less noticeable.
This is very different from my Acne Scar Improvement treatment. Acne scarring involves changes much deeper within the skin and generally requires a far more intensive remodelling approach. Cosmetic Scar Improvement is for the already-healed surgical scar where we're simply trying to refine what's there.
Cosmetic Scar Improvement is for healed, relatively fine surgical scars that you would simply like to make less noticeable. That can include scars from breast implant surgery, thyroidectomy, liposuction, facelift and other cosmetic or surgical procedures where you're left with a faint incision that may be lighter, darker, slightly textured or simply more visible than you'd like.
It can be especially lovely for those little scars that you keep noticing yourself, perhaps when you're wearing a swimsuit, looking in the mirror or getting dressed, even though everyone else may barely notice them. Sometimes it's that final little refinement that makes you feel completely finished with your procedure.
Cosmetic Scar Improvement is for fully healed surgical scars, so the first thing I need to know is that your surgeon has given you the all-clear to have the scar treated.
I'll also need to know what type of surgery you had and when you had it. I want to know that the underlying tissue has healed properly before I put any thermal energy into the area.
I won't treat a scar that is still open, weeping, infected, inflamed, significantly irritated or actively healing. If the scar is raised, thickened, very firm or behaving in a way that makes me think it may be a hypertrophic or keloid scar, I may also recommend that you have it assessed medically first, because that requires a different approach from the gentle scar refinement we're talking about here.
I'll also ask you to wait if the surrounding skin is sunburned, recently tanned, irritated or compromised, or if you've had another treatment in the area and the skin hasn't completely settled.
And finally, this treatment is not designed to replace surgical revision. If you have a scar that is significantly raised, tethered, wide, painful or structurally altered, I'll tell you if I think you need a different approach. My job is to know when this gentle treatment is appropriate, and when it isn't.
The most important thing is that your surgery is finished, your surgeon has cleared you, your scar is properly healed, and we both have a clear understanding of what we're trying to improve.
For Cosmetic Scar Improvement, the technologies I would normally use are Fotona 1064 nm and fractionated CO2 laser, using carefully selected settings appropriate for the individual scar.
The aim is not to aggressively resurface the area; it's to give the scar a very gentle, controlled thermal stimulation to help it look finer, softer and less obvious.
I'll look at the scar itself, its age, colour, thickness, texture and how it has healed, and choose the technology and settings I believe are appropriate.
Cosmetic Scar Improvement is usually $200 to $300 per session, depending on the size, length and number of scars we're treating.
Because these are generally smaller treatment areas, I can focus very specifically on the scar rather than charging you for a full facial treatment you don't need. We'll assess the scar first, decide what I believe will give you the best result, and I'll tell you the exact price before we begin.
The treatment itself includes my assessment of the scar, selecting the appropriate technology and settings, the treatment and personalised aftercare advice.
Call me for a clear picture of current pricing.
Different surgeries create different types of scars, and different scars heal at different rates. Your surgeon is the person who knows what was done underneath the skin, how your tissues were repaired and when they believe it is appropriate for you to start working on the scar. Some surgeons may offer scar treatment as part of your postoperative care, while others may have you wait longer.
If your scar is less than six months old, I need you to have had the all-clear from your surgeon before I work on it.
I'm not going to simply put the handpiece over every surgical scar in exactly the same way. I'll tailor the treatment to the scar in front of me and the level of stimulation I believe it needs.
The technology is important, but the timing is just as important. I want to work on your scar when your body is ready for me to do that work, not simply because you're keen to get started.
I can't promise that a scar will disappear completely.
That is entirely up to your surgeon.
It depends on the scar, how it has healed and how your skin responds. Some scars respond beautifully with just a few treatments, while others benefit from a longer course of progressive refinement.
Results vary from person to person.