Subcision
Subcision is a minor in-office surgical procedure that’s used to treat acne scars.
It involves inserting a small needle into your skin to release the acne scar from the underlying tissue. This allows your skin to rise and to diminish the appearance of the acne scar.
Before & After
What You Should Know About Subcision
With this procedure, a dermatologist inserts a hypodermic needle into your skin directly beneath the scar.
Before starting the procedure, your dermatologist will clean the area around your scar. They will also apply a local anesthetic to freeze and numb your skin, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure.
The needle is used to loosen and break the fibers that connect the scar to the tissue underneath it. This process not only helps to lift a depressed scar, it also triggers the release of collagen at the site of the needle insertion.
Both the lifting of the scar and the release of collagen can help diminish the appearance of the scar.
This procedure is usually repeated three to six times with at least 4 weeks in between each treatment.
Subcision isn’t suitable for all types of acne scars. For instance, it might not be helpful in treating raised (hypertrophic) scars and keloid scars.
The pain, swelling, and bruising typically takes 1 to 2 weeks to heal. Your dermatologist may prescribe an antibiotic or anti-inflammatory to help with the healing process.