Without treatment, scars last forever. Patients come into Toronto’s Elements Spa often to address textural skin issues that have existed for them for years, sometimes even decades. Acne can be a very traumatic condition for adolescents and even adults! Every day we try our best to present ourselves to our peers, family, friends, and colleagues in a way that portrays confidence, drive, and enthusiasm. When your appearance doesn’t match how you feel — especially when it comes to your face — it could seriously affect the way you approach your goals and the way you act in social engagements.

For many who suffer from acne, or have suffered in the past, what remains are memories and scars anywhere from pimples to cystic acne and more. Fortunately, with treatment, board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Adibfar and his astute team of dermatologists and estheticians can address acne scars by reducing and eliminating them so you can confidently go about in your daily life. Let’s look at some of the treatments for acne scars more closely.

There are various types of scars, some more visible or textured than others. A few include hypertrophic scars, ice pick scars, and raised scars or keloids. For this reason, there are multiple treatments available to best treat a variety of skin conditions. Essentially, a scar leaves a visible dent behind in one’s skin that no makeup can conceal completely. To fill the void, our skin needs to develop collagen. Collagen production is essential for smooth and youthful-looking skin. It is the most abundant protein found in the human body and collagen is what gives the dermis (or outer layer of skin) its firm structure. Collagen is naturally found in all parts of the body and it has the remarkable ability to regenerate new cells while promoting skin firmness.

Depending on the scars that you have, there are several options available to you. Some of these options include chemical peels containing retinol, micro-needling, dermal rolling, lasers (including Fraxel CO2), PRP, and more! Many patients require a combination of treatments to best treat their acne scars. In their own unique way, these treatments all work to help your skin produce more collagen. Over time, the body develops momentum and the collagen begins to build and accumulate more rapidly, healing the skin and allowing it to fill the scars left behind from bad acne.

For those looking for short-term or immediate results (ie. for an upcoming family function or wedding for example), depending on your scars, Dr. Adibfar can use hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to fill these areas. While the filler will fade over time, it does work by attracting hydration and volume to the area and essentially ‘filling’ any holes. While this may work for some, others may need other treatments — for example for patients with ice pick scars.

If you’re unhappy with your skin’s texture and would love to see a drastic improvement to the scarring left behind from past or present acne, then you’ll be happy to know that we can help. We’ll analyze your skin and develop an individualized approach to get your skin to look smoother, healthier, and more vibrant than ever before.

Click here to learn more or to book a consultation with one of Toronto’s leading board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeons, Dr. Adibfar.