In the United States alone, there are over 11,000 dermatologists who are active in seeing and assisting patients. 

There are even more trained technicians who work in the skincare field, and they can help with a wide variety of services. Laser scar removal is a growing field because of the irritation, self-consciousness, and pain that scars can cause. Even scars thought unfixable like acne scars are now treatable. 

If you have scars you want to be removed, what should you look for before deciding one where to go to have the procedure done? Like all medical procedures you want to be careful. 

1. No Scar is Fully Gone 

An important thing to remember when dealing with laser acne scar removal is that the scar doesn’t vanish. Scar removal is more akin to replacing one scar with another, only the second scar is a lot harder to see. There is no magical property of a laser that allows it to completely recompose damaged skin. 

The acne scarring that you’ve suffered will become far less noticeable than it was before. The ability to hide scars and make them less obvious, is where laser operations excel. It is an important distinction that you have to keep in mind, there is no 100% cure for scarring, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help if you want it. 

2. Results Will Vary 

Not everyone has the same result when they have acne scar removal. The best results depend on the person who is doing the removal procedure. Their skill and understanding of the process will determine how effective your treatment is. 

It is for this reason that you should always seek out a trained medical professional. You don’t want to risk having someone who doesn’t know what they are doing, operate on you. The results can be even worse than they were before, so it is important to have a professional. 

A nurse practitioner or a certified dermatologist are the best options in this case. They can help make sure that you get the most out of your procedure. They will also be able to help you in other ways, understanding the risk and alternative possibilities. 

3. Consultation 

You should always have a consultation with the professional that you intend to use. You don’t want to leave any questions unanswered, this is a serious medical procedure. Make sure that you are getting the service you need, and that all your concerns get dealt with. 

A consultation is also when you need to be honest with your medical provider. Tell them if you have any underlying conditions or if you smoke. Let them know what medications you are on so that they can have all the information they need to get the best results possible. 

You also need to be honest with your expectations. Share with your doctor or practitioner what you expect to get out of the process, and what you’re looking for. They can advise you on what to expect and the most common results. 

4. Stay Out of the Sun 

You may not be aware, but if you show up with a suntan or sunburn, the procedure will not work. You can not have a laser operation done if you are currently suffering from sunburns or have damaged skin. But it isn’t just before the operation that you need to be careful. 

Once you have a laser operation done to your skin, you need to protect the area in every way that you can. Sunscreen alone isn’t going to be enough. Stay out of the sun and in the shade as much as possible to prevent any discoloration or damage to the operation site. 

5. Treatment vs Procedure 

Acne laser scar removal is only one of the treatment options to deal with acne scarring. Depending on the severity of the scarring, there are other acne scar treatment removal options that can work hand in hand with laser removal. These include other options like fillers to reduce the size of the scars. 

Make sure that you speak with your clinician about what to expect and what other methods they would suggest. The more effort and time you put into scar removal, the more successful the results will be. 

6. It may take Multiple Treatments

Besides the other options on the table, your scar removal may require more than a single laser treatment. A lot will depend on how your skin takes to the procedure, how big of an area is treated and how severe the scars are. If you have severe acne scarring, you might expect a second treatment. 

Don’t let this get you down, it is a normal part of scar removal. Of course, we all wish that results would occur in everyone in only a single treatment, but that isn’t realistic. 

7. Be Patient

Laser acne scar removal treatment doesn’t make a full impact until months after the procedure was done. This is due to how the skin heals and how the scars are mitigated by the presence of other scars. To see your full results, you might be waiting for several months. 

It is common for the process to take up to months before you even begin to notice a big change. This can be frustrating, but there’s no way around it. It takes time for the body to recover from the procedure and the full impact of your scar removal to be apparent. 

Removing Your Acne Scar

Often an acne scar can remind us of a more painful time in our lives. Every time you look into the mirror you may find yourself focusing not on how good you look, but how prominent the scars on your face are. You don’t have to suffer like this any longer, you can get the help that you need. 

If you are in the San Diego area and want a place where you can get scar removal and relief from the stigma they bring, contact us. Better Off Med Spa is committed to getting the maximum benefits for our clients.