Scar Removal Treatments

Cutis has the largest repertoire of lasers & energy devices in the Southern Hemisphere. We are both a clinical & research facility. This means patients are receiving the very latest lasers & technology, well before the protocols & devices are released to other clinics.

Our consultant dermatologists are internationally renowned speakers that lecture on the latest methods & technologies. Cutis is also a training centre for dermatologists in Australia. 

Dermatologist at Cutis treat the following scar types; 

• Acne scars
• Traumatic & surgical scars
• Burns
• Chicken pox scars
• Atrophic scars
• Hypertrophic & keloid scars
• Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark)
• Post inflammatory erythema (red)

Our dermatologists & nurses are experts in the field of scar revision. We employ methods such as-

• Low level laser therapy with Healite LED
• Lasers to treat brown pigmented scars, including the Picoway & Picosure
• Lasers to treat red scars, including Prima, Perfecta & Derma V
• Surgical procedures
• Dermal fillers
• Fat transfer
• Melanocyte transfer, for hypopigmented scars

Yesterday. Scar prevention is so much easier than scar treatments. Read more on how to look after wounds. Dermatologists & plastic surgeons are meticulous with post-operative instructions aimed at reducing scar formation.

Good wound care can mitigate long term scarring. Here are 5 tips to help reduce scars.

1. Apply silicone gel or sheets to scars. Brands include Strataderm or Dermatix.
2. Compression will aid in recovery. 2 to 6 months depending on your surgeon.
3. Sunscreen is important, it reduces redness and post surgical pigmentation.
4. Treat early scars with vascular lasers & anti-inflammatories.
5. Treat hypertrophic scars early with lasers & injections. 

Increased risk factors for scars include-

• Young patient – less than 40
• Ethnic skin – eg. Asian or African patients
• Family history of scars
• High tension areas including back, shoulders, chest, jawline
• Thermal injury such as burns
• Poor wound care

Prevention is the best management. For established keloid scars, dermatologists will employ-

• Pulse dye lasers
• Anti-inflammatory injections
• 5 FU injections
• Compression
• Silicone gel or sheets
• Intra-keloid anti-wrinkle
• Excision +/- radiotherapy

Early intervention will markedly reduce keloid scars. Strategies include-

• Use of low-level light within the first 2 weeks of surgery
• Use of compression & silicone dressings/tape/gel
• Vascular lasers such as pulse dye & KTP lasers
• CO2 lasers & intralesional 5 FU or steroids
• Surgical techniques to close with minimal tension

Intervention is like other forms of scar revision. They include-

• Methods to address contour changes; ablative lasers, fat transfer, dermal fillers
• Lasers to improve colour changes; red or hyperpigmentation
• Surgical procedures to improve scar outline- Z pasty, re-excision

The most common cause of post-surgical scarring is with mole removal. Frequently affected areas are ‘high tension’, namely on the chest, shoulders & back. ‘Spread scars’ are notoriously difficult to treat.

Be guided by your surgeon as we all have different techniques to mitigate scarring. As a rule of thumb-

• Follow dressing instructions
• Compression post-surgery for 2-6 months
• Use silicone sheets or gels post-surgery
• Intervene early with pulse dye laser 
• Treat post inflammatory hyperpigmentation with pico lasers
• Protect from UV

Cutis Dermatology Brisbane is well known for the treatment of acne scars, as we see patients from all over Australia & internationally. Our treatment methods include-

• Picoway & Picosure Pro for post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• CO2 lasers including the eCO2, Ultrapulse, CO2RE, Mixto, Hybrid, Fraxel RePair
• Erbium Lasers: including the Sciton Joule & MCT 121
• Fractional RF needling including the Genius & Infini by Lutronic
• Vascular lasers including the Derma V, Prima, Perfecta
• Manual subcision with Toledo’s, BB canulas, Taylors & GTis
• TCA paint, CROSS
• Phenol croton oil paint

Excision, elevation, dermal grafting

If you have mild scars, you may want to consider DIY micro needling at home. Choose a roller or better still a stamper with a needle protrusion length of 0.2 to 0.25 mm. These are available on eBay or Amazon. Steps are:

1. Clean the area with disinfectant
2. Microneedle the area with 2-6 passes
3. Keep tension to the treated site
4. Wash with disinfectant
5. Protect from UV
6. Repeat 3-6 weeks

This treatment is only good for mild atrophic scars. 

Scar revision carries a small risk of adverse events. These should be differentiated from expected outcomes and heal times. These include-

• Infection; rare. About 1-3 % of cases. Easily managed. 
• Prolonged pigmentation changes, more common in darker skin ethnicities. 
• Idiosyncratic scars: very rare, less than 2% of cases, treatable. 
• Bleeding, haematomas: 2-5% depending on the instruments & procedures. 

Your treating specialist will discuss specific risks, based upon the procedure. 

Our clinic works via objective endpoints. This means we strive to achieve the following goal- to get you to understand and realise that ‘the end point is achieved when others do not see your scars.’

The goals are achieved when in normal lighting, others do not get distracted by facial scarring. Subjective improvements are secondary gains. BDD(body dysmorphic patients) patients visualize scars that normal individuals (family/friends) cannot see. These patients are best seen by a psychologist or a psychiatrist. Providing you are under the care of these specialists we may elect to treat you with appropriate modalities. 

Undergoing scar revision is an investment of time, effort, and money for patients. Here are some helpful points that may help you along your journey. 

• Always control your acne. You will go infinitely faster & better with any scar revision treatment. This means absolute (or almost absolute control), it does not mean ‘much better than before.’ If you have inflammation, your collagen remodeling is compromised. If in doubt, seek professional advice from our dermatologists and nurses. 

• Time. Collagen remodelling does not occur in weeks, but months. You must be committed to the timeline & treatment plan. 

• Sun protection is paramount. It does not mean you can’t go out in the sun, it means sun protection is important. SPF 50+ twice a day regardless of exposure. If a 50 ml bottle lasts longer than 3 weeks, you are not using enough sunscreen.

• Darker skin type; you may require more sessions compared to lighter skin. In some cases, we will expectedly darken your skin but will come up with solutions to lighten it back to normal. 

• Costs. If cost is an issue, our nurse led scar clinic can provide you with cost effective treatment options. This way you can budget your spend & maximise your gains. 

• Settings of laser / devices matter. Lasers are just tools to get the job done. Parameters are crucial for best outcomes. Additionally, using the best brands are super important.