Laser scar treatment deserves some considerations:
- Old scars have gone through a “maturation” period in which growth activity disappears.
- The growth activity of fresh scars is manifested by hardness, redness, symptoms, mass.
- The old scar will generally present, to varying degrees, atrophy.
- The objective of all treatment is to control the active part and improve the texture defect.
- The active scar is treated with sequential infiltrations until the activity disappears.
- The laser reduces redness and pigment changes.
- Fillers decrease and compensate atrophic segments.
- Surgical revision is considered the most definitive option when it is feasible to do so.
What are the scars that improve with laser?
The majority. The exception is when the surgical alternative is faster and more necessary.
What does laser improve on scars?
Homogenizes pigment, reduces redness and improves skin texture.
If I have a sunken scar, can it be improved?
Mild subsidence responds to subablative lasers (Fraxel 1550)
Dips with very defined edges will require specific or complete dermabrasions.
Can red scars be improved?
The laser coagulates the scar vessels that give the scars their red color.
Can thick scars be improved?
As long as they are not active, they can be vaporized with a CO2 laser.
Scars that have thickened after surgical revisions and that have not responded to infiltrations can be improved with lasers.
How much do acne scars improve?
Scars with extreme changes in texture can be treated with combined leveling of Erbium-YAG, CO2 and Fraxel lasers.
However, it is hardly possible to recover a perfect texture.
How long does laser scar treatment last?
Treatment of old scars requires follow-up for at least 3 years.
The immature ones (red) respond much sooner.
Can scars on the face be treated with laser?
Scars with superficial skin atrophy respond to stimulation with fractionated lasers.
Can stretch marks be improved with laser?
The superficial ones do respond because there is material to reform the skin in the dermis.
