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Scar

A scar is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury or wound has healed. Scars can range in appearance from raised and red to flat and discolored, and can be a source of discomfort and insecurity for some people. An aesthetic medicine clinic offers various cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance of scars, such as laser therapy, injections, or skin resurfacing. A specialist can evaluate the type and severity of the scar and recommend the best treatment options to help minimize its appearance.

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What Causes Scars — and Why They’re Not All the Same

Scars fall into a few clinically distinct categories, each requiring a different treatment approach. Atrophic scars — the depressed, pitted type associated with acne, chickenpox, and some surgical wounds — form when the healing process doesn’t produce enough new collagen to fill the tissue loss. Hypertrophic and keloid scars go the other way: excess collagen creates a raised, thickened band above the skin surface. Flat, discolored scars are often primarily a pigment concern — residual redness or hyperpigmentation in healed skin rather than a texture problem. The age of a scar also matters: newer scars still remodeling respond differently than mature, established scar tissue.

This page covers scar treatment broadly — surgical scars, trauma scars, stretch marks, and burn scars, in addition to acne-related scarring. For a focused look at acne scarring specifically, see our Acne Scars page.

Treatment Options for Scars

The most effective scar treatments work by stimulating collagen remodeling, resurfacing the skin, or targeting discoloration — and the right choice depends on whether your primary concern is depth, texture, or color. Many patients benefit from a combination approach over multiple sessions.

RF Microneedling

For depressed, pitted scars — including atrophic acne scars and surgical scars with texture irregularity — RF Microneedling is nearly always Dr. Borakowski’s first line for established, depressed scars—especially when texture irregularity is the primary concern. Radiofrequency energy delivered through microneedles reaches the dermal layer directly, triggering deep collagen remodeling that standard microneedling can’t match. The advantage over laser is meaningful for patients with darker skin tones: because there’s no surface ablation, hyperpigmentation risk is significantly reduced. Most patients see progressive improvement over 3–4 sessions as the remodeled collagen gradually fills in depressed areas. Learn more about RF Microneedling →

Microneedling

When scarring is mild-to-moderate, or when a scar is newer and still maturing, standard microneedling is often the right starting point. The controlled micro-injury response stimulates the skin’s own collagen production without the intensity of RF energy — making it a well-suited option for patients who want to begin conservatively, or for scars that don’t require deep dermal intervention. It’s also commonly used between RF Microneedling sessions as a maintenance or enhancement layer. Learn more about Microneedling →

Laser Resurfacing (Elluminate Glow)

When a scar’s most visible feature is color — residual redness, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or a discolored flat scar — laser resurfacing addresses what microneedling alone can’t. Elluminate Glow targets surface pigmentation and vascular discoloration while simultaneously improving skin texture, making it particularly useful for scars that present as both a color and a smoothness problem. It’s also a strong option when the scar is relatively flat but the surrounding skin tone is uneven. Learn more about Elluminate Glow →

The three treatments above cover the majority of scar presentations we see in practice — from deep pitting to surface discoloration. For more severe or resistant scarring, ablative laser treatments including CO2 Laser Resurfacing and Erbium Laser Resurfacing offer a more aggressive resurfacing option. CO2 is the most powerful tool for deep scar revision; Erbium provides a gentler ablative approach with faster recovery. If your concern is specifically acne scarring, our dedicated Acne Scars page covers that treatment pathway in detail.

Am I a Good Candidate for Scar Treatment?

Most adults with visible scarring are candidates for at least one form of professional treatment — the question is which approach suits your scar type and skin. Ideal candidates have realistic expectations about improvement rather than complete elimination: most scars can be made significantly less noticeable, but full erasure is rarely achievable. Skin tone, scar age, and whether the scar is stable (not still changing) all factor into which treatment is appropriate. At your consultation, Dr. Borakowski will assess your specific scars, identify the primary concern — texture, depth, or color — and recommend a treatment plan accordingly.

How Much Does Scar Treatment Cost?

Scar treatment costs vary considerably depending on the approach — from a single laser session for discoloration to a multi-session RF Microneedling series for deep atrophic scars. After in-person assessment, you’ll receive a detailed cost outline specific to your scarring pattern and proposed treatment strategy.