Your Guide To Acne Scar Removal In Singapore

Consider yourself lucky if your skin has been spared from one of the most dreaded skin problems – acne. Unfortunately, luck isn’t on the side of some people when it comes to this. It is a myth that acne only attacks during the puberty stage. Acne can still happen even in adults. The ordeal with acne does not end with getting rid of it alone. If the skin was not treated with proper care during the time of an acne breakout, then there is a big chance that your acne left some remembrance in the form of unflattering scars on your face.

Acne scars do not go away on their own. They are actually permanent. Home remedies, if you’ve done them, do little to improve their appearance. If you’re looking for alternatives in removing your scars, you have landed on the right page. In this article, we will discuss how you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the removal of your acne scars.

Acne Scars vs. Acne Marks

Acne leaves two trails of its existence on the skin: acne scars and acne marks. It is important that we distinguish which is which to better understand your skin’s current condition and arrive at the correct treatments that would result to the removal of your acne scars.

Acne scars, as we have mentioned earlier, are permanent. They can appear as deep or shallow depressions or elevation on the skin. Acne marks, on the other hand, are dark discolorations on the skin or what we call post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These are temporary and disappear from the skin within 3 to 6 months.

Causes of Acne Scars

Cystic acne is the type of acne that can leave scars. This type of acne is big, red, and firm to the touch. Hands off those pimples if you wish not to get scars because popping or picking on them can bring more damage to your skin!

Types of Acne Scars

Acne scars can either be depressed or elevated (hypertrophic scars). Depressed acne scars can be identified into 3 kinds:

• Boxcar scars
• Ice pick scars
• Rolling scars

Boxcar scars are depressions that are wide and rectangular in shape with sharp, distinct edges, while ice pick scars are deep scars that have narrow openings. Finally, rolling scars are wide dents in the skin that have circular sloping edges.

Acne Scar Removal Procedures in Singapore

There are several acne scar removal procedures in Singapore. These are:

• Chemical peels
• Dermal fillers
• Laser treatment
• Punch excision or grafting
• Radiofrequency microneedling
• Subcision

It is important to note that there is no single procedure that can remove all types of acne scars. Usually, doctors like Dr Wan from 1Aesthetics recommend a combination of the different procedures in order to address the different types of acne scars that may be present on the skin of their patients. It is best that you discuss with your doctor the type of treatments required for your condition to get the best results.

Here is a list of examples of the different acne scar removal procedures and their costs:

Procedure	Sample Treatments	Best for	Cost
Chemical peels	TCA Cross	Ice pick scars	$150 per session
Dermal fillers	Juvederm, Restylane, Rejuran	Wide, shallow scars	$700 to $1,100 per syringe
Laser treatment	Fractional C02 laser, Pulse-dye laser, Pico + Hexa MLA lasers	Fractional C02 is best for treating atrophic acne scars   Pulse-dye lasers for acne marks, and Pico + MLA laser for shallow and deep acne scars.	Laser treatments range from $250 to $1,000 per session, depending on type of laser to be used.
Punch excision or grafting		Ice pick scars	$200 to $350 per session
Radiofrequency microneedling	Infini	Atrophic, mixed, tethered, and rolling scars	$1,000 to $2,500 per session
Subcision		Shallow scars with wide base	$100 to $300 per session

 

Will the improvements be immediately seen?

Patients can expect to see about 50 to 70% improvement on the appearance of their acne scars after the first few sessions of acne removal procedures done on their face. Improvements will vary from person to person and is affected by how your skin responds to the treatment.

What factors do I look for in considering a doctor who can treat my condition?

The success of your acne scar removal treatment relies highly on the hands of your doctor. A doctor that you should consider in handling your condition should:

• Be meticulous
• Be knowledgeable in all the procedures that they are offering, especially those that require the use of machines (e.g. laser)
• Have an adequate amount of experience in handling acne scar removal procedures
• Possess the right skills in performing acne removal procedures

I have found a doctor who can treat my condition, what should I expect during my initial consultation?

During your initial consultation with your doctor, expect to answer different questions that would help in the planning of your treatment. Some of the details that your doctor may ask you include:

• What your expectations and goals are in getting the treatment
• What facial treatments or procedures you have done in the past
• How much downtime you are willing to take
• How much budget you have to cover the costs