Acne Scars
Rolling, boxcar, and icepick scars are different structures, and treating them all with one laser or one needling series rarely works. Many clinics list scar packages with attractive names. The more reliable signal is whether the doctor names your scar types, discusses combinations, and describes realistic improvement rather than erasing marks.
Common causes
- Deep inflammatory acne that damages collagen and leaves tissue loss
- Picking or squeezing lesions, which can deepen injury
- Delayed treatment of active acne, allowing repeated inflammation
- Genetic tendencies that affect how the skin heals
- Atrophic scars may be joined by redness or darker marks that are not true scars
How doctors usually approach it
- Classify the scars
- The doctor identifies rolling, boxcar, icepick, or mixed scars, and separates them from flat red or brown marks that may fade.
- Match techniques to scar type
- Subcision, chemical reconstruction, fractional lasers, microneedle radiofrequency, and collagen-stimulating injections each suit particular patterns.
- Combine and sequence
- Plans often layer several methods over months, with intervals that let skin recover.
- Control active acne first
- New breakouts undermine scar work, so active acne is normally brought under control early.
Treatments often discussed
What a good consultation for acne scars looks like
Expect the doctor to examine your face in good light, sometimes stretching the skin to see which scars flatten. This simple step shows how deep and tethered the scars are. A clinic that names a treatment without examining them has not earned your trust yet. Ask which scar types you have and which are likely to improve most.
Listen for language about improvement rather than removal. Scar revision often reduces depth and texture, but some marks remain, and results vary by person and scar type. A candid doctor will say which scars respond less well, such as icepick scars, and will explain what additional methods exist. Ask about downtime for each proposed step, since resurfacing lasers and subcision involve days of redness, scabs, or bruising.
Ask also about risks specific to your skin tone, such as pigment changes after resurfacing, and what the clinic does if you react poorly. Request a written outline of the sequence, the number of sessions per method, and review points. Be wary of a plan that sells a single device for every scar, or that moves into payment before you have been told what is realistic.
Acne Scars: common questions
Can all acne scars be removed?
No. Many can be improved, but complete removal is not realistic for most. A doctor can explain which scars respond better to which methods.
Should I treat active acne before scars?
Usually yes, because new inflammation can create more scars. Many plans control breakouts first or alongside scar work.
Why does one clinic suggest a laser and another suggests needling?
Scar types and doctor preferences differ. Ask each to explain why their method fits your scars, and look for consistent reasoning.
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- Area
- Sinsa, Gangnam
- Nearest station
- Sinsa Station (Line 3)
- Mon - Fri
- 10:00 - 19:00
- Thu
- 10:00 - 21:00 (late clinic)
- Sat
- 10:00 - 15:00
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- Closed