Acne Scar management
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Acne scar treatment reshapes the skin left behind after acne has settled, using a combination of lasers, microneedling with radiofrequency, subcision and peels rather than any single machine. Most people need 4 to 6 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart and see 50 to 80 percent improvement, since scars are remodelled rather than erased.
Acne scar management in Surat at Elegance Clinic is planned by Dr. Ashutosh Shah, a board certified plastic surgeon, after mapping which scar types are present on your face. This matters because a face usually carries three or four different scar types at once, and each one responds to a different tool. Treating every scar with the same laser is the most common reason patients feel their money was wasted.
First, active acne has to be controlled
No resurfacing treatment should begin while acne is still actively breaking out. New lesions create new scars faster than treatment can remodel the old ones, and treating inflamed skin increases the risk of pigmentation. Acne is brought under control first, which may take a few weeks or a few months, and only then does scar work begin. Anyone who has taken isotretinoin waits a further period before ablative treatments.
Know your scar type
| Scar type | How it looks | What works best |
| Ice pick | Narrow, deep, like a pinprick going straight down | TCA CROSS, punch excision, then resurfacing |
| Boxcar | Wide with sharp vertical edges, like a small crater | Fractional CO2 laser, microneedling with radiofrequency |
| Rolling | Broad, shallow undulations, worse in side lighting | Subcision, then filler or collagen stimulation |
| Hypertrophic or keloid | Raised and firm, common on jaw, chest and back | Steroid injections, silicone, vascular laser |
| Post inflammatory pigmentation | Flat brown or red marks, no texture change | Not a scar. Peels, topicals and sun protection, often resolves on its own |
That last row is worth reading twice. A large share of what people call acne scarring is flat discolouration, which fades over months with the right topical routine and daily sunscreen, and does not need expensive laser sessions at all.
Treatments used and what each one does
- Subcision: a fine needle releases the fibrous bands tethering a rolling scar to the tissue underneath, so the depression lifts. Often the single highest impact step for rolling scars.
- Microneedling with radiofrequency: insulated needles deliver heat at a controlled depth, remodelling collagen with less surface damage. Safer for deeper skin tones than aggressive ablative lasers.
- Fractional CO2 laser: creates microscopic columns of controlled injury so the skin rebuilds. The most powerful option for boxcar scars and overall texture, with the most downtime.
- TCA CROSS: a high strength acid applied precisely inside an ice pick scar to make it contract and lift.
- Chemical peels: improve surface texture and pigmentation, useful between the heavier sessions.
- Dermal filler: lifts individual depressed scars immediately, usually as a finishing step rather than a first move.
- Punch excision: deep isolated ice pick scars are cut out and closed, leaving a fine line that resurfaces well.
A realistic plan combines two or three of these in sequence. For example, subcision first, then radiofrequency microneedling sessions, then filler for anything still visible at the end.
Cost of acne scar treatment in Surat
| Treatment | Sessions | Typical cost per session |
| Microneedling with radiofrequency | 4 to 6 | Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 18,000 |
| Fractional CO2 laser | 3 to 4 | Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 18,000 |
| Subcision | 1 to 3 | Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000 |
| TCA CROSS | 2 to 4 | Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 8,000 |
| Medium depth chemical peel | 4 to 6 | Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 8,000 |
| Filler for individual scars | 1 | Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 35,000 |
| Complete combination plan | Full course | Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 1,20,000 |
These ranges are typical for Surat and are a guide only. Because scar work is nearly always a combination, a course estimate is far more useful than any single session price.
What a session and the following week look like
Numbing cream is applied for 45 to 60 minutes before energy based treatments. The session itself takes 30 to 45 minutes. Afterwards the skin is red and feels sunburned. With radiofrequency microneedling the redness settles in 2 to 3 days. With fractional CO2 there is redness, tiny dark crusts and peeling for 5 to 7 days, so it is planned around work and social commitments. Makeup is usually allowed after 3 to 5 days depending on the treatment.
Realistic expectations
Scar treatment is remodelling, not erasing. A well planned course typically achieves 50 to 80 percent improvement, and the final result is judged 3 to 6 months after the last session because collagen keeps reorganising long after the redness has gone. Photographs in consistent lighting at the start are essential, because gradual improvement is very hard to see in the mirror day by day.
Aftercare that protects your skin
- Daily broad spectrum sunscreen throughout the course and for months afterwards, this is the single most important step
- Gentle cleanser and a bland moisturiser for the first week after each session
- No scrubs, retinoids or acid products for 5 to 7 days after a session
- Do not pick the crusts after ablative laser, picking is what turns a healing point into a new scar
- Avoid gym, steam, swimming and direct sun for 5 to 7 days after ablative sessions
Risks
Expected effects are redness, swelling, crusting and peeling appropriate to the treatment used. The main risk in Indian skin is post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a temporary darkening that follows overly aggressive settings or inadequate sun protection, and it is prevented by conservative energy, priming the skin beforehand and strict sunscreen use. Infection, prolonged redness and rarely worsening of scarring are uncommon and are minimised by correct patient selection and technique.
Frequently asked questions
Can acne scars be removed completely?
Not completely. Scar treatment remodels the skin rather than erasing it. A well planned course usually achieves 50 to 80 percent improvement, which is enough that scarring is no longer the first thing seen in normal light.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people need 4 to 6 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, often combining more than one technique. Deep ice pick scars may need separate procedures such as TCA CROSS or punch excision alongside the resurfacing course.
Which treatment is best for acne scars?
There is no single best treatment, because most faces have several scar types. Rolling scars need subcision, boxcar scars respond to fractional laser or radiofrequency microneedling, and ice pick scars need TCA CROSS or excision. Mapping the scars first is what makes a plan work.
Is acne scar treatment painful?
Numbing cream is applied for 45 to 60 minutes beforehand, so sessions are tolerable. Expect a hot, sunburned feeling for a few hours afterwards. Subcision is done with local anaesthetic injection and causes bruising for about a week.
How much downtime is there?
Radiofrequency microneedling leaves redness for 2 to 3 days. Fractional CO2 laser leaves redness, fine crusting and peeling for 5 to 7 days. Peels vary with depth. Sessions are usually planned around work and social commitments.
Will the flat marks left by acne also improve?
Flat brown or red marks are pigmentation rather than scarring, and they fade over months with topical treatment and daily sunscreen. It is worth confirming which of the two you have, because pigmentation does not need expensive resurfacing.
How much does acne scar treatment cost in Surat?
Individual sessions typically range from Rs. 3,000 for a peel to Rs. 18,000 for fractional CO2 laser or radiofrequency microneedling. A complete combination course generally falls between Rs. 45,000 and Rs. 1,20,000 depending on scar severity and the number of sessions.
Do acne scars go away on their own?
Flat red or brown marks left after a spot are pigmentation, and those usually fade over 6 to 12 months with sun protection. True scars, which are indentations or raised tissue, are permanent changes in the skin structure and do not resolve without treatment.
What is the best age to treat acne scars?
Any age once active acne is under control. Treating in the twenties or thirties is common because skin heals and remodels faster, but good results are achieved later too. Waiting while acne is still flaring only adds more scars to treat.
Book a scar mapping consultation in Surat
At Elegance Clinic, the first appointment maps your scar types in proper side lighting, separates true scarring from pigmentation, and gives you a staged plan with a session count and a course cost before anything starts. Call +91 83205 00350 or book online to plan acne scar treatment with Dr. Ashutosh Shah.