About Surgical and Traumatic Scars

Scars can be an unpleasant reminder of a past accident, surgery, illness, or injury. They can not only cause you distress when you look at them, but they can also invite the unwanted curiosity of other people who might inappropriately stare, or even worse, ask invasive questions about your deeply personal experience. For many, seeking treatment for the scars on one’s skin can serve as a form of recovery from the event that caused them in the first place.

At Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center, our board-certified dermatologists have extensive experience treating a wide variety of scars, such as: 

• • • Hypertrophic or keloid scars
    • Red scars (which have excessive blood vessels)
    • Hypopigmented or white scars
    • Hyperpigmented scars
    • Depressed scars
    • Acne scars
      

Our board-certified dermatologists understand that each scar is unique, and will take a multimodal, customized, and evolving approach to treating both the appearance of your scars and any associated symptoms such as pain, itching, or burning that they might be causing. As the most well-equipped laser center in the world, Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center has numerous state-of-the-art lasers and energy-based devices that our dermatologists will use to treat your scars. Some of the lasers that our dermatologists frequently use to treat scars include:

• • • Fraxel Restore
    • Fraxel Repair
    • Palomar Starlux
    • Candela Vbeam pulsed dye laser
    • Lumenis Vasculight intense pulsed light
    • Lumenis Ultrapulse
    • Fotona SP Dynamis
    • Fotona Starwalker
    • Cynosure Picosure

As experts in the treatment of scars, our board-certified dermatologists believe that each scar should be treated based on its unique characteristics. As such, they will customize your scar treatment to not only incorporate the use of lasers and other energy-based devices but also a number of other therapeutic modalities, as listed here:

• • • Biostimulatory and/or hyaluronic acid soft tissue fillers
    • Radiofrequency technologies
    • Surgical revision
    • Therapeutic injections
    • Laser-assisted trans epidermal drug delivery
    • Platelet rich plasma
    • Exosomes
    • Biostimulatory absorbable threads
    • Topical prescription strength or cosmeceutical therapies to be used adjunctively at home

Will my scar be completely removed?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely restore the original appearance of the skin to what it looked like before a scar developed. It is, however, possible to soften, lighten, and blend the appearance of a scar so that it is significantly less noticeable.

How many treatment sessions will my scar need before it is improved?

The number of treatment sessions that you will need will depend on the unique characteristics of your scar, as well as your skin’s response to treatment. Scars that are very large/wide, are older, are located in high tension anatomic areas, and/or are keloidal at the outset of treatment, will likely need more treatments than scars that are smaller and new.

Are there any side effects of treating my scar?

While it is overall very safe to have your scars treated, there are some side effects that can potentially occur. Temporary side effects include redness, swelling, and bruising that can last for a few days to a week. There is also a very rare risk of pigmentary changes, infection, and potential worsening of the scar, though these can in the vast majority of cases be prevented by following proper aftercare instructions.

Why trust Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center to help me treat my scars?

Our board-certified dermatologists at Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center are skin care experts who have extensive experience in treating a wide array of scars. With a comprehensive lineup of lasers and other energy-based devices, as well as a number of cutting-edge complementary therapies, our dermatologists will customize a treatment plan that will blend, lighten, and retexturize your scar in a manner that is safe and efficacious. Our dermatologists understand that no two scars are alike and that scars evolve and change as they are treated. As such, they will take a dynamic approach to treating your scars, tailoring each of your treatment sessions to optimally treat your scar at each point along its revision journey. Finally, our dermatologists understand that many scars carry both a painful history, and a significant psychological burden for those who bear them. They are eager to use their experience and expertise to help address these facets of your scars, in addition to their appearance.