Subcision Acne Scars; Subcision is a simple, safe and efficacious procedure for the treatment of depressed acne scars. A small needle is inserted into the scar to break up the fibrous bands tethering the scar to deeper tissues. This releases the attachment, allowing the scar to ‘float’ up to the level of normal skin. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, and most patients tolerate it very well.
Subcision can be performed on its own, but it is often combined with other treatments for acne scars such as laser, dermabrasion or chemical peels. It is also useful as part of a staged treatment plan for acne scars.
Subcision is a procedure in which a doctor inserts a needle under the skin to break up fibrous bands that are causing acne scarring. The goal of this procedure is not to remove or resurface the skin, but to release the fibrous bands that are creating the indentations in your skin so that they fill out and fade.
Subcision is usually combined with other treatments, such as lasers or chemical peels. You may need multiple treatments to see results.
Subcision takes about half an hour and can be done in your doctor’s office. A topical anesthetic can be used for pain control.
The most common side effects are bruising and swelling, which typically fade within 1 to 2 weeks. The risks include:
Infection
Bruising and swelling
Lack of improvement in your skin
Acne scars are a common sequela of acne vulgaris and despite the fact that there have been many advances in the treatment of acne, none of the treatments for acne scars have been perfected. The purpose of this review is to discuss how to manage acne scars with subcision.
Subcision involves releasing the fibrotic bands tethering down depressed scar tissue. It can be used safely on all skin types. The procedure is performed using a sterile needle and its configuration depends on the type of scar being treated. Topical anesthesia, local anesthesia or conscious sedation may be used depending on the patient’s preference and surgeon’s practice style.
Complications are minimal with subcision when used appropriately. Patients should expect bruising and swelling after the procedure which generally resolves within two weeks of treatment. Subcision is commonly combined with other laser procedures or microneedling for optimal results.
Subcision for Acne Scarring
Acne scars often result from deep inflammation within the skin and are caused by a loss of tissue.
Subcision, a simple surgical technique, can be used to treat this type of scarring.
The procedure involves the use of a fine needle to release fibrous bands within the scar that pull it down, resulting in a depression.
Subcision is a procedure that involves inserting a needle under the skin to break up scar tissue.
A dermatologist will use a small needle to create a tiny incision in the skin. This incision releases the fibrous bands of tissue that are pulling down on the scar, causing it to indent. Subcision can also help stimulate collagen production and improve blood flow to the area, which may help reduce the appearance of scars.
Subcision is often used alongside other procedures, such as laser treatments or dermabrasion.
Subcision is a procedure performed under local anesthesia to improve the appearance of depressed scars. It involves making an incision in the skin over the scar, and then dividing the fibrous septae (bands of connective tissue) that tether the scar to underlying structures. This allows the scar to move freely, and it is elevated to a more normal level. Subcision can be performed on its own or in combination with other treatments such as laser resurfacing.
Does Subcision Work For Acne Scars?

Subcision is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat acne scars, in which a needle is inserted under the skin to break up the fibrous bands of scar tissue that causes the depression.
Subcision requires an anesthetic. It can be combined with other treatments such as dermal fillers, microneedling or lasers.
The results are immediate and can last up to two years, depending on the severity of your scars.
Does Subcision work for acne scars?
Subcision is a treatment that involves inserting a needle into the skin to break up and release the fibrous strands that cause acne scars.
Once the fibrous strands are released, the skin can relax, which brings about a smoother appearance.
While subcision is not recommended as an initial treatment for moderate to severe acne scarring, it may be considered in combination with other treatments or after other treatments have failed.
Subcision is a procedure that has been used for over 50 years to treat depressed scars and wrinkles. It involves cutting fibrous bands beneath the surface of the skin that may be causing the scar or wrinkle to form. As you might have guessed, subcision is most commonly used to treat acne scars.
Subcision works by breaking up these fibrous bands that are pulling down on the skin and creating the scar or wrinkle. It can also stimulate collagen production in the area, which will help smooth out the skin
The Subcision Procedure: What to Expect
In order to perform subcision, your cosmetic dermatologist will use a surgical tool called a needle or blade to cut through these bands. This will then allow them to release their grip on your skin, allowing it to rise back up into its normal position. Once this takes place, new collagen forms in the area and helps fill any remaining gaps in your skin
During your subcision treatment, you will likely receive local anesthetic so that you do not feel any pain. Your dermatologist will then use a small needle or blade to cut through these fibrous bands, which releases their grip on your skin. From there, your body’s natural healing process will take over and produce new collagen in order to
Subcision is most commonly used for depressed acne scars, but can also be used for small “ice-pick” type scars. Subcision works by breaking up the fibrous bands that tether down the scar to deeper tissues, thereby releasing the scar into a more normal position and contour.
Subcision is performed with a needle placed underneath the scar, and moved in an upward direction to break up and release the tethering bands. It can be performed under local anesthesia as a simple office procedure.
The results of subcision are often dramatic, with immediate lifting and smoothing of the scarred area. However, results are not permanent, as the fibrous bands will eventually reform. This can be prevented by performing multiple treatments over time.
Subcision is most commonly performed in combination with other treatments such as dermal fillers or laser resurfacing to achieve optimal results.
Subcision is a cosmetic surgery procedure most commonly used to treat rolling scars left behind by acne or other skin diseases. Rolling scars are indented scars that have sharp edges, and can be difficult to remedy with fillers and laser resurfacing alone.
Subcision works by placing a needle under the skin and moving it back and forth to break up scar tissue bands. This allows the skin to “float” into the area where the band was, creating a smoother surface.
Scar tissue can form for many reasons. After a wound heals, for example, fibrous bands of tissue connect your tissues and muscles to deeper tissues, creating tension in your skin. In the case of acne scarring, this tension pulls down on your skin fibers, causing the depression you see in your scars.
Subcision releases those fibrous bands and allows the skin to float upwards into its new location, smoothing out the surface of your skin. It’s performed under local anesthetic and usually takes about 20 minutes.
Subcision is a minimally invasive surgical technique that involves the insertion of a needle under the skin to shatter fibrous bands of scar tissue that pull down on the skin, causing it to depress.
The technique was first described by world-renowned dermatologic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Dover in 1990 and has been used extensively since then in the treatment of cellulite, wrinkles, and acne scars.
The procedure is performed in-office with local anesthesia and can last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes depending on the size of the area treated.
An alternative to subcision for treating depressed acne scars is punch elevation or punch excision, where an elliptical opening is made around the scar, which is then excised and closed with sutures. Punch elevation can be performed alone or in conjunction with subcision.
I would highly recommend using subcision for any type of scars. It is a great treatment that I use on my patients all the time. What you will find with subcision is that it is particularly useful for rolling scars, the ones that are more indentations in the skin, as opposed to ice pick scars.
It’s important to remember that subcision works by breaking up fibrotic bands and by separating the underlying dermis from the epidermis. This then allows blood to pool under the affected area and as a result platelets release growth factors which help to remodel collagen production, therefore filling in the gaps of an acne scar.
Can Subcision Make Acne Scars Worse?

Subcision can make acne scars worse if it is not performed by a physician.
Subcision is a procedure to break up the scar tissue that tethers down the skin and causes rolling scars from acne. It involves using a sharp needle to cut the fibrous bands that are pulling on the skin.
It is important to see a physician who has experience with subcision for acne scars because it takes experience to know how much pressure to put on the needle during subcision and how much force to use so as not to create more trauma and more damage under the skin.
I recommend you see a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for a consultation.
The reality is that if you have deep rolling scars, subcision can make them better. If you have shallow boxcar scars, it will not help them. A lot of people think that it makes the scars worse, but I am telling you that they are wrong. It is not possible to make them worse by using a subcision machine.
The main goal of a subcision procedure is to treat facial scarring that is caused by acne or other types of scars. It involves inserting a surgical needle into the skin through the incision of a cut and then making an upward motion to loosen up the skin around it. This allows for new tissue to grow and fill in the scarred area.
The Subcision procedure is an old but very effective treatment for acne scars.
If your scars are rolling scars, the Subcision procedure will tend to make them look worse for about 2 weeks. However, after that time frame, the scars will begin to look better.
For box-car or icepick scars, the results from this procedure do not improve much over the first 6 weeks. The collagen remodeling process is slow and gradual. If you don’t see significant improvement in the first month and a half, it is unlikely to happen.
A subcision is a surgical procedure that is done to treat depressed acne scars. This procedure involves the use of a needle to lift up the depressed areas of the scars. It can be done with regular needles and even with cannulas (blunt needles).
It is very difficult to predict the results of this procedure. Slow healing and scarring can occur and it can lead to worsening of the acne scarring. So I would recommend you consult with a board certified dermatologist who has experience doing subcision for acne scars.
Subcision is the most common method for treating acne scars. It is used for depressed scars and works by removing the fibrous strands in the skin which are causing the depression.
In a typical subcision procedure, a doctor will inject a local anesthetic into your skin to minimize discomfort during the procedure. He or she will then insert a small needle under your scar tissue to break up the fibrous strands and elevate your skin to its natural level. You may need more than one treatment in order to see results.
The procedure generally takes 15-20 minutes and you should be able to return home immediately following treatment. However, you may experience mild swelling and bruising in the treated area that should go away within a few days.
The success of this procedure depends on the severity of your scarring, but it is generally effective for treating deeper acne scars. The results of subcision are permanent as long as you do not have any further damage to the treated area.
The dermis where the fibrous bands occur is cut by a scalpel. This creates a space between the scar tissue and the deeper tissues of the skin. A blunt cannula is then inserted into this space in order to divide and break up the fibrous bands. This also allows for better blood flow to the area.
Subcision is usually quite effective at improving depressed rolling scars, but it can sometimes make them worse or not improve them at all. It may also cause some new scars in the treated area (usually red marks). In my opinion, subcision works best when used in combination with other treatments such as fillers and lasers
Subcision is a procedure that involves a needle shaped like a small hook. The needle is inserted into the skin along the scarred area and moved back and forth under the skin. This creates a pocket of skin that releases the scar tissue from the underlying tissue. This allows new collagen to form, filling in the indentation caused by the scar.
This procedure is not without complications. It can cause an infection or allergy to the anesthetic used to numb the area. It can also cause bleeding and bruising. In some cases, it can cause a keloid scar or hypertrophic scar to form. Curved scars can be made worse with this procedure because they may become wider at their base after subcision.