When you have to get a surgery or injury repaired, it’s normal to worry about the size and shape of your scar. Laser treatment can help reduce the appearance and pain of a scar, but all scars are not alike. The type of laser treatment you need depends on when your wound happened. A dermatologist can give you a laser scar removal procedure at any time after a wound heals, but the sooner the better.
Laser scar removal can make scars less noticeable and uncomfortable. When the laser is applied to the skin, it stimulates new, healthy skin growth. Laser scar treatment cannot completely remove scars, but it can reduce their visibility.
We can help you get rid of a scar with our laser therapy treatment. Our laser therapy reduces the appearance of a scar by smoothing out the skin, evening surface irregularities, and lightening the color.
How does laser treatment help with scars?
Laser treatment can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions and symptoms, including scars. During laser treatment, a focused beam of light penetrates the outer layers of skin. This process stimulates new, healthy cell growth, as older, damaged layers are removed. The result is smoother, healthier skin.
Lasers resurface your skin to remove older, damaged skin, allowing for new skin to grow. They can reduce the amount of scar tissue and make scars flatter, softer, and less noticeable.
Scars are a natural part of the healing process after an injury and often fade without treatment. However, if you want one removed to reduce its appearance or discomfort, a number of treatments can be effective. Scar removal procedure with laser is one option for people to consider removing scar tissue.
Laser treatment can help to minimize the appearance of scars by:
For some people, laser treatment can help speed up the healing process and decrease pain or itchiness.
In some cases, it can also reduce the appearance of scars, as well as improve the range of motion of the skin around the scar.
Sometimes, a doctor can also use a device that combines laser therapy with injections of corticosteroids, which help to soften the scar even more. That may be especially helpful in cases of keloids and hypertrophic scars, which are both caused by an overproduction of collagen during the healing process.
Your skin may be temporarily reddened following treatment, but the skin will return to its normal appearance in a few hours. Some lasers may be unsuitable for certain skin tones because they may cause the skin to grow back discolored. Generally, repeated laser treatments are required to produce lasting results. As with any medical procedure, you should discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Persistently visible scars that cause discomfort can be treated with lasers. A doctor should thoroughly evaluate a scar before recommending a laser for treatment use. They should explain the potential benefits unique to a particular laser as well as its possible side effects.
Which types of scar can it help with?
Laser treatment can help reduce the appearance of many types of scars, including acne scars and injury scars. Laser treatment may not be suitable for older scars that have already changed color or if you have raised scars.
This product was designed specifically to help with superficial scars. Doctors tend to recommend it for those types of scars while they’d likely recommend something else for a deep scar or one that restricts a person’s movement.
A doctor may recommend laser treatment for scars that are caused by injury or previous surgery. This type of scarring is known as hypertrophic scarring or keloid scarring.
Doctors are unsure how laser treatment improves the appearance of scars so it’s difficult to predict how effective it is likely to be. Laser therapy can be useful for improving the appearance of some types of scars and is most effective on raised or discolored scars. It can work best on young scars that are still red or pink because they contain more active blood vessels than older scars. Laser treatment might also even out skin tone but it won’t erase a scar completely. It’s not suitable for deep scars and isn’t recommended after surgery. Dermatologists say that laser treatment is not a cure for scars and does not remove them completely. In some cases, a doctor may recommend a combination of therapies, for example, using injectable fillers alongside laser therapy to make the scar less noticeable.
How to prepare
On the day of your laser scar removal treatment, keep your skin clean and do not use any lotions, deodorants, or perfumes that could potentially interact with the laser.
Your doctor will let you know if there is anything special you should do to prepare for your treatment. Depending on the part of the body that requires treatment, a doctor will usually suggest wearing clothing that is easy to take off and put on, such as a soft button-up shirt and loose-fitting pants.
Procedure
Before a person undergoes laser treatment, a doctor will examine the scar and mark the skin with a pen to identify the area for treatment. Then, apply an anesthetic cream to the site. The cream will numb the area around the scar and prevent the patient from feeling any pain during the procedure.
How the treatment process may work?
Your doctor will clean the area around the scar and may inject a local anesthetic or apply a numbing cream to the area. The scar will be treated with a laser that removes some of the top layers of skin, one layer at a time. Deep scars may require several treatments, 1 to 2 weeks apart.
The doctor may ask the person to wear protective goggles if the scar is on the face.
Once you’re ready for treatment, your doctor will apply a topical anesthetic to the area. The doctor will then place wet towels or gauze around the scarred area to absorb laser pulses that would otherwise affect healthy skin.
The doctor passes a laser over your skin to help break up the scar tissue. They may occasionally apply a cooling saline or water solution during the procedure.
After your treatment is complete, your doctor will apply an ointment and a clean dressing to cover the area. The ointment will help prevent scarring and reduce any discomfort.
Depending on your treatment, you may notice redness or swelling for several hours immediately following the procedure.
After the procedure, your doctor may recommend applying moisturizing lotion to the area at least twice daily. You should also refrain from applying makeup until the redness, swelling, and tenderness completely resolve.
Are there any risks?
Side effects of laser procedures vary depending on the type of procedure and depth of the scar. Some people may experience temporary redness and swelling. More serious reactions are less common but may include infection, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), or hypopigmentation (light spots). A doctor should discuss potential side effects and risks with the individual before performing laser procedures, as many of these complications can be prevented or minimized through proper care after treatment.
Laser treatment for scars is a medical procedure. Similar to any procedure, there are risks, side effects, and things that could go wrong. It’s important to discuss the possibility of side effects with your doctor prior to the procedure.
