Microneedling didn't help my acne scars - why, and what works instead
Microneedling treats the surface of the skin. It can soften fine texture and very shallow scars, but it does not release scars that are tethered to deeper tissue, and it does not replace lost volume. A course of treatment can lead to some improvement for superficial scars, however patients often come to me after having had treatment elsewhere and tell me that they have not noticed any improvement.
Matching the treatment to the scar
- Rolling scars: are held down by fibrous bands, and need subcision to release them.
- Ice pick and deep boxcar scars: are too deep for surface treatments, and respond to TCA CROSS or punch excision.
- Volume loss: restored with filler, often at the same visit as subcision.
- Texture and shallow scars: fractional laser such as ResurFX or CO2, once the deeper scars have been treated.
The order matters
Most people have more than one type of scar. Treatment works best when tethered and deep scars are released and lifted first, and the surface is resurfaced afterwards. See What order should acne scar treatments be done in?
Unhappy with your result?
I regularly see patients for a second opinion after scar treatment elsewhere. I can assess your scar types and plan treatments in the right order. An acne scar consultation is in person.
Related Articles
- What order should acne scar treatments be done in?
- Does anything actually work for acne scars?
- How much improvement can you expect from acne scar treatment?
- How I treat acne scars
