Scars

What is Scar Tissue?

Scar tissue is a hard fibrotic type of tissue that develops as a result of a complication of the natural wound healing process. For example, some of the skin’s cells have been damaged or destroyed. Our skin is predominantly made up of collagen fibres which helps provide structure to our skin. However its normal alignment, its elasticity component and the functionality of the original tissue have been significantly altered resulting in the formation of scar tissue.

Are There Different Types of Scars?

There are many different types of scars, some of which we are unfortunately unable to treat. The most common scars seen are either a thicker elevated or lumpy demarcation on the skin’s surface and appear a different colour to that of the surrounding skin.

In some cases, scar tissue can develop and appear more sunken and depressed into the skin. These types of scars are usually a result of acne.

On the rarer occasions, there are scars that can develop outside the margins of the original wound area and appear quite raised. These scars can develop spontaneously and not just from trauma. This type of scarring is known as keloid scarring and unfortunately, this type of scar tissue is very challenging to treat due to its uncontrolled nature.

Skin Needling

Here at CRC, all of our skin needling treatments are performed using a microneedling device that has 2mm titanium microneedles. This is to ensure we penetrate to the right depth within the dermis, breaking up any scar tissue as well as instigating pinpoint bleeding. Initiating this controlled wound response further stimulates a controlled healing response resulting in the formation and remodelling of new collagen.

Does Skin Needling Hurt?

To make sure minimal discomfort is felt by the client, a topical anaesthetic cream is applied prior to the commencement of the treatment to help numb the skin. As this cream doesn’t provide complete numbing relief, in most cases clients usually feel a mild pressure placed on the skin.

What Areas Of The Body Can Be Treated?

Skin needling treatments can be performed on any area of the face or body.

How Long Does This Procedure Take?

The time it takes to perform a skin needling treatment depends on the size of the scar tissue being treated. For example, for a full face skin needling treatment it usually takes approximately 2 hours to perform. Half of this time is taken up by waiting for the topical anaesthetic cream to take effect. However, when treating small individual scars the treatment time is much less.

Is there any post procedure “social downtime?”

Clients can expect to experience two to three days of downtime following any skin needling treatment.

What to expect after treatment

Initially, post-treatment the skin can appear like a moderate to severe sunburn, accompanied by a mild degree of swelling and pinpoint bleeding. This skin response usually lasts 24 to 48 hours post treatment and then subsides. Over the next first few weeks following the treatment, the skin will feel taut.

Due to collagen formation being a slow process, it can take up to three months to realign and results may not be visible until around this time period. However, the stimulation of collagen production can last up to 12 months following the procedure. It is a treatment that keeps on giving.

How many treatments are required?

Results can be seen after just one treatment. However depending on the type of scar being treated and the overall outcome wanting to be achieved, multiple treatments may be required to achieve these results. Treatments can be performed in six to eight week intervals but full results are usually not seen until around 3 to 6 months post the final treatment.

Pearl Fractional Laser

Another treatment used for scar revision is the pearl fractional laser. This is a type of ablative fractional laser. Pearl Fractional laser breaks up scar tissue by heating up and vaporising columns of tissue from the skin, whilst sparing the surrounding tissue in order to assist with the healing process. In other words, this type of ablative laser treatment removes columns of scar tissue, allowing for the formation and production of new collagen.

What to expect following Pearl Fractional Laser

As this type of treatment is a little more aggressive than skin needling, clients will experience anywhere from a moderate degree of redness and swelling to spots of bleeding and mild oozing, depending on the intensity required to break down the scar tissue.

However, regardless of the intensity of the treatment, the area will appear like a moderate to severe type of sunburn. In some cases, a mild degree of swelling and pinpoint bleeding or other clear exudate can be seen, followed by some scab formation. This process lasts anywhere from five to seven days post treatment. Again, similar to what you may experience post-skin needling, the skin may feel taut, although the redness in the area can last up to four weeks before it completely diffuses. This time frame is usually a lot less in more mild forms of treatment.

Does this procedure hurt?

Again similar to skin needling treatments, a topical anaesthetic cream is applied prior to commencement of treatment to minimise the amount of discomfort felt by the client. In most cases, clients feel a moderate degree of heat (similar to a bad case of sunburn).

What can I expect to see following the treatment?

First results are seen around the three-month mark however results will continue to improve for up to 12 months post treatment.

With fewer treatments usually required, intervals between treatments are more spaced out. This treatment can be performed with six-month intervals but is more commonly done every 12 months.

How many Treatments are required?

As this procedure has the ability to stimulate more collagen production than skin needling, on average the majority of clients require only one to two treatments.

Additional Information

To ensure which treatment option is best suited for you, a consultation with one of our dermal clinicians is recommended. In cases where a more intense approach is required with our pearl fractional laser, a second consultation with our Plastic Surgeon is required in order to prescribe any medication needed for treatment.

Both of these procedures are performed in a fully sterile environment to eliminate any chance of infection. Home care skincare products are also incorporated into the treatment and are included in the overall cost. Furthermore, several review appointments may be required following either treatment at different stages of healing, and these appointments are also included in the costs of each treatment.

Scar Revision Cost

All consultation appointments cost $50.00 and are necessary to determine the correct treatment plan suited for each individual client.

• Skin Needling (full face treatment) Price: $365.00
• Pearl Fractionated Laser (full face treatment) Price: Starting from $899.00 (is determined at consultation appointment)

If you are ready to improve the appearance of those unwanted scars, give the clinic a call to schedule a consultation appointment. Our caring staff will take the time to understand your needs and the desired results you are wanting to achieve. Then we will work with you to establish a tailored treatment plan, ensuring optimal results.