Acne scarring

Doctor-led assessment · Surry Hills, Sydney

The acne itself settled down years ago. The texture it left behind did not. Scarring is treatable, but how well depends almost entirely on which type of scar you have.

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Deposit redeemable on your treatment · (02) 8074 1559

01Assessment by scar type, not a one-size package
02A doctor-led clinic with a qualified dermal therapy team
03Honest expectations, including what will not change

Skin assessment at The Centre for Medical Aesthetics

First, are they actually scars?

A lot of what people call acne scarring is not scarring at all. Flat red or brown marks left after a breakout are pigment, and pigment fades — sometimes on its own, usually faster with treatment. They can look alarming and they are among the easier things we deal with.

True scarring is different. It is a change in the structure of the skin, where tissue was lost or pulled, and you can see it in raking light or feel it with your fingertips. That needs remodelling rather than fading, and it takes longer.

Knowing which you are looking at changes the plan, the timeframe and the cost. It is the first thing we sort out.

The three scar types, and why it matters

01

Rolling scars

Broad, shallow dips with soft sloping edges that give the cheek an undulating look, especially in side lighting.

What helps: these respond best of the three, because the skin can be stimulated to fill from underneath.
02

Boxcar scars

Wider depressions with sharper, more defined walls, a little like small craters. Common on the cheeks and temples.

What helps: usually improve well, though deeper ones may need several sessions and will soften rather than disappear.
03

Ice-pick scars

Narrow, deep and steep — small punctures that go further down than they are wide.

What helps: the most stubborn of the three. Resurfacing alone rarely does much, and expectations need to be realistic.

Most people have a mix, which is why a single treatment repeated over and over tends to plateau. The plan usually combines approaches.

What we look at first

Whether you are seeing scars, pigment, or both
Which scar types are present, and roughly in what proportion
Whether any acne is still active, because treating scars over live acne rarely goes well
Your skin type and how it tends to respond to injury
Downtime you can realistically take
What you have already had done

If acne is still flaring, we deal with that first. Resurfacing skin that is still breaking out is a good way to create new marks while treating old ones.

Treatments we use for scarring

These work by remodelling the skin over months rather than removing anything. Which combination suits you is decided at your consultation.

SkinPen MicroneedlingCollagen stimulation for rolling and boxcar scars
Morpheus8Radiofrequency microneedling for deeper textural change
Pico LaserSurface texture, and the pigment left behind by acne
ZO Skin Health PeelResurfacing where appropriate
Healite II LEDCalming inflammation and supporting healing
RejuranSkin quality and resilience alongside resurfacing

More on the skin treatments we offer, or browse other skin concerns.

Scar treatment is a course, not a single appointment. You will be told roughly how many sessions to expect before you commit to anything.

How the months tend to go

Week 0Assessment and groundwork
Scar mapping, settling any active acne, and getting your home routine right so the skin is ready.
Months 1–3The first course
Treatments spaced four to six weeks apart. Little visible change early on — collagen takes its time.
Months 3–6Where change shows
This is usually when texture starts to look different in normal light rather than only under scrutiny.
BeyondReview and decide
We re-image and compare properly. Some people continue, some stop here, and we will tell you honestly which we would suggest.

What honest improvement looks like

Scarring softens. It does not vanish. Anyone shown a photograph of perfectly smooth skin and told that is the goal is being set up to feel let down.

What tends to happen is that the shadows get shallower, the skin catches light more evenly, and the texture stops being the thing you notice first in a photograph. For most people that is the difference that matters.

We will show you your own imaging side by side rather than asking you to remember what your skin looked like six months ago.

Wondering why there are no before and after photographs? We explain why, and what we do instead.

Common questions

How many sessions will I need?

Most courses run to somewhere between three and six treatments, spaced four to six weeks apart, but it depends on scar type and depth. You will get an expected number at your consultation rather than an open-ended plan.

Will my scars be completely gone?

No, and we would rather say so now. Scars are remodelled and softened rather than erased. The realistic goal is skin that reads as even in ordinary light.

Is there downtime?

It varies. Microneedling usually means a day or two of looking sunburnt. Radiofrequency microneedling can mean a little longer. Downtime is discussed before you book so you can plan around work and events.

Can I be treated if I still get breakouts?

Occasional spots are usually fine. Active, inflamed acne is not, because treating over it risks making things worse. We will help you get that settled first.

Does microneedling work on ice-pick scars?

Not especially well on its own. Ice-pick scars are narrow and deep, and they generally need a different approach. We will be straight with you about which of your scars will and will not shift.

Do I need a consultation first?

Yes. Scar type determines everything about the plan, and it cannot be assessed from a photo or over the phone.

Start with a skin consultation

Scar mapping, a clear explanation of what you are actually dealing with, and a staged plan in writing.