Acne Scar Treatment
About Acne Scar Treatment
Are you one of the many who still suffers from acne scars?
Now there is a new treatment that may help.
In the past, acne scars have been treated with surgery, dermabrasion, laser peels, soft tissue fillers, chemical peeling agents, traumatic needling procedures, and a host of other treatments. While these procedures produced satisfactory results, it was difficult, even in the best of cases, to achieve more than 50 percent improvement for severe scars and skin depressions. In addition, a great amount of downtime was often involved.
Today, Dr. Taylor has combined tumescent anesthesia (to numb the skin), subcision (a process of undermining and loosening adhesions beneath the scars using a micro dissector), TCA chemical peels, horizontal resurfacing to
remove scar ridges, and ablative fractional laser treatments. While the combined approach sounds complicated, it actually allows greater improvement in a single visit without any more downtime or risk. In most cases, the entire treatment for facial acne scarring can be completed in about an hour of treatment time, and with just one or two weeks of recovery time.
If you suffer from acne scarring and would like more informaiton regarding this new combined laser treatment, please call us at 801-595-1600.
The Visible Results
Before and After Photos
Questions? We can help!
What causes acne scars?
Acne scars are caused by a mixture of oil and bacteria that create severe inflammation within the pores of the skin on the face, neck, chest, shoulders and back. Acne is often inherited and some families are more prone to have severe acne that causes scarring. There are many other factors that also contribute to severe acne including diet, activity, hormones, and more.
How can I prevent acne scarring?
Expert treatment from a dermatologist can often stop the inflammatory process that results in acne scarring. Treatment with topical and oral medications, lasers, light treatments, acne surgery, facial brushing, microdermabrasion and extractions can often stop the inflammatory acne response and prevent scarring. Sometime, however, even the best of care cannot prevent the acne scars.
What types of scars can be treated?
There are many types of acne scars, but all can be treated in a single session on the same day.
What treatments are available for acne scarring?
Some of the common treatments used in the past include surgery (excision of scars), dermabrasion (sanding), laser resurfacing, injectable filling substances, chemical peels, radiofrequency treatments and topical skin products. Many of these treatments can offer some improvement in select patients, but sometimes significant scarring remains as a source of distress and unhappiness for many individuals.
Are there any new treatments available?
Within the past two years, amazing new treatments have become available for the treatment of acne scars. One new treatment in particular that offers amazing improvement for patients with severe acne scars, is a combination treatment developed at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute. It’s a procedure that combines tumescent anesthesia, extensive subcision, chemical peeling, laser resurfacing and Fraxel Repair laser treatment. With this new combined treatment method, we have been achieving greater improvement (often 80+ percent improvement in a single treatment). The technique was developed by Dr. Mark Taylor and is published in the Dermatologic Surgery journal.
How and where is the treatment performed?
The treatments are performed at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute in Salt Lake City. The entire procedure takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Patients are given oral medications, numbing cream and complete tumescent anesthesia to insure that they are comfortable.
Who performs the treatment?
Dr. Taylor and the other physicians at Gateway Aesthetic Institute perform the treatment. A team of skilled skin specialists assist these physicians.
How long is the recovery?
Most patients require 7 to 14 days before returning to work or to sensitive social situations. The recovery is not painful and is easily managed at home. Special healing ointments developed by the Gateway Aesthetic Institute and special light treatments to promote healing are used to hasten the recovery. Periodic office visits with the doctors at the clinic are also conducted throughout recovery.
What else can be done to improve the scars?
Patients are encouraged to return to the clinic one month after treatment. Any residual scars can often be filled with Restalyne Lyft (Perlane), Restalyne Silk, Juvederm, Radiesse, and Belotero. Additional low-intensive laser and radiofrequency treatments may also be used to improve the appearance of normal skin in and around the affected areas.
How do I know if I am a good candidate for this treatment?
Call Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center at 801-595-1600 to schedule a consultation. We are located at the south end of the Gateway Mall at 440 West 200 South, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.