From : Buzzle.com

acne scars removal

When acne leaves unsightly and even disfiguring scars behind, acne scar removal can make all the difference. Over time, cosmetic surgeons have used various techniques to tackle ugly acne scars and the science of acne scar removal has evolved considerably. This entailed removing the scarred topmost layer of the skin via a sanding procedure. New, unscarred skin often took months to grow back after this procedure.

Many doctors used chemical peels to achieve acne scar removal. Other procedures included punch replacement grafting and soft tissue filling.

Surgeons now use laser resurfacing to treat many other kinds of skin flaws such as wrinkles and sunburns, too. A very popular version of laser-based skin surgery uses the non-ablative laser. In this procedure, the laser does not burn off the affected surface of the skin. In laser-based acne scar removal, the surgeon uses a wand-like laser hand-piece with which he burns off the scarred skin cells. Fresh skin cells then replace the burned-off cells. Because the procedure is so precise, the surgeon can target only the affected skin tissue, leaving unaffected skin alone. Skin surgeons employ two kinds of lasers for acne scar removal. The first is the Erbium (Er) or erbium:YAG laser. The laser penetrates the skin and the moisture content in the skin readily absorbs it. The heat produced by this laser then scatters, leaving normal skin unaffected. The second is the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, which is a relatively recent development in skin surgery circles. It emits short bursts of extremely high-energy, highly focused laser light that vaporizes the scarred skin tissue a layer at a time, leaving only fresh skin in its wake. Medical complications after laser surgery on acne scars are very rare.

Surgeons who perform laser-based acne scar removal are highly qualified in the field and have considerable artistic ability, too.

The top five methods of acne scar removal
From : PinkFridge.com

When choosing an acne scar removal treatment you need to firstly, work out what sort of acne scar you have, because some treatments are more effective on different types of scars than they are on others.

1. Punch Techniques: (most suited for deep ice pick scars)

There are three different punch techniques:

*Punch Excision – This method uses a punch biopsy tool which looks a bit like a small, round, sharp cookie cutter. Under local anaesthetic the scar is excised with the punch tool and then the wound is closed and allowed to heal.

*Punch Elevation – The same tool is used as above to cut the base of the scar leaving the walls intact. The base is then elevated to the level of the surrounding skin.

Punch surgery may take several weeks to heal.

2. Chemical Peels (most suited for very mild scars)

This procedure involves the application of high potency acid on the skin (usually AHA’s) in order to remove the top layer of the skin to reveal the smoother layer underneath. Side effects may include redness or swelling and possible flakiness or dryness as the top layer of skin is removed.

3. Augmentation: (most suited for deep scars, atrophic scars)

This process involves material being injected under the scar to bring to the same level as the surrounding skin. Filler substances such as collagen, restylane, cosmoderm and cymetra may be used or even the patients own fat.

4. Dermabrasion (most suited for shallow scars)

Dermabrasion uses a power-driven hand held tool to remove damaged skin and allow new skin to grow in its place. The skin is usually anesthetized and frozen during this process. The skin may look scraped and for several days and then a scab will form, swelling may occur as well.

5. Laser Resurfacing (most suited for shallow imperfections)

Compared to other acne scar removal treatments laser resurfacing is relatively new method for treating it scars. It works by burning off the top layers of the skin to a certain depth. The affected area then heals with the scarred skin being replaced by new, smooth skin.