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Acne Scar Treatment New Jersey

If you’re looking to reduce acne scarring in New Jersey, we can help. We offer a variety of highly effective acne scar treatments, all delivered by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Kaplan. Get in touch to organise a consultation.

What Are Acne Scars?

Millions of people suffer from acne around the world. While it’s just a frustrating, temporary phase of life for most people, for others, acne is so severe that it leaves long-lasting scarring.

Scarring occurs when acne penetrates deep into the skin, damaging the surrounding skin and underlying tissue. This triggers a natural response by the body to repair the damage. As part of the response, the body produces collagen. If too little or too much collagen is produced, it can leave a scar. Acne scars fall into one of three types:

  • Atrophic scars: flat, shallow depressions
  • Hypertrophic scars: raised, lumpy tissue, which is more common in people with darker skin tones
  • Keloid scars: similar to hypertrophic scars, except the scar grows in size, appearing larger than the original acne

We understand that acne scarring can often cause people to feel self-conscious. We provide acne scar removal through a variety of treatment options.

For more information, schedule a one-on-one consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Gordon Kaplan, at our offices in Edgewater, NJ, or Madison Avenue, NYC.

Treatment Options

We offer four acne scar treatment options for our patients:

Subcision With Dermal Filler

Subcision is a minor procedure performed in our clinic. We insert a fine needle under the skin to release tethered fibrotic strands that hinder the skin from rising, causing the divots in the skin that we often see with deep acne scars.

This also stimulates collagen growth, which will ignite the body’s healing response to help clear up scar tissue. Results can usually begin to be seen after about a week but will continue over the next few weeks to months following the collagen production.

Subcision can be supplemented with dermal fillers. We use a type of dermal filler, called Belafill, to add volume to the depressions of acne scars. This helps level out the skin, reducing the visibility of the scarring. Belafill also stimulates collagen production after about four weeks, so it helps to prompt the body’s natural healing process.

When combined with subcision, Belafill is incredibly effective. While multiple sessions may be needed to get your desired appearance, these results can last up to five years.

What To Expect

We’ll begin by washing your face to cleanse it of any oils, lotions, or debris. Then we’ll apply a topical numbing cream to help you stay comfortable during your procedure.

From there, we will insert a special type of needle, called a “nokor”, under the skin. Dr. Kaplan will then move the needle back and forth to displace scarring within the dermis.

Finally, Bellafill will be injected into each scar to help lift the skin. You can see subcision in action below:

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser treatment offers another highly effective solution for acne scars. We use the Sciton Profractional laser, which emits pulses of laser. This is converted into heat energy that removes the top layer of the skin, which then stimulates collagen production. The collagen will plump up the skin and smooth out irregularities.

We prefer the Sciton Profractional laser for acne scar treatment because profractional lasers leave the surrounding healthy tissues intact, thereby reducing the treatment area (meaning less downtime for patients). Other laser treatments do not offer the same benefit.

What To Expect

This procedure lasts 45–60 minutes. Before we start, we’ll clean your skin and apply topical anesthesia. From there, Dr. Kaplan will pass the laser device over the treatment areas, followed by a cooling device that will keep you comfortable.

Afterwards, your skin will likely feel very warm and look as if it’s sunburned. You may have some pinpoint bleeding, but this is normal and is not cause for alarm. We’ll provide you with aftercare instructions.

PDO Threads

PDO threads are a third acne scar treatment NJ and NYC patients can consider. These absorbable, polydioxanone threads are delicately placed under the skin to stimulate blood flow and produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, which work together to create smooth, healthier skin.

Collagen is a crucial part of treating acne scars, which is what makes PDO threads so effective. As the threads create micro-injuries, the body’s natural healing process begins, which will help to revitalize the skin.

See PDO threads for acne scarring in action below:

What to Expect

Before inserting PDO threads, we will cleanse your skin and apply a topical numbing cream. Over the next 30–45 minutes, Dr. Kaplan will insert the threads underneath the skin and into the dermis. The needle is removed and the thread is released into the skin. After about 3–4 weeks, collagen will begin to form and the skin will start repairing itself. You will not feel or see the PDO threads once they’ve been inserted into your skin.

After treating scarring with PDO threads, you can get right back to your daily routine as little to no downtime is required. You can expect some swelling, bruising, bleeding, and tenderness or feel mild pain, but this will disappear in time. After about a month, collagen will begin to form and peak about six months after your appointment. You can expect your results to last about 1–2 years.

Microneedling

Microneedling is an acne treatment which creates small punctures on the skin using a pen-like device with multiple small, thin needles. The punctures trigger a response from the body, creating collagen and elastin. When performed over acne scars, microneedling can help repair damaged skin tissue, improving skin texture and tone.

What to expect

Microneedling treatments last between 30 minutes to 1 hour. It’s likely you’ll need multiple sessions to achieve your desired results, usually around three.

Recovery

Recovery differs a little based on the procedure and we’ll explain what you can expect during a consultation.

Regardless, it’s typical to experience some minor swelling and bruising immediately after your procedure, but this is perfectly normal and will subside. Swelling may last somewhere between 3– 10 days. We will give you specific washing instructions, but generally, you’ll just need to very gently cleanse your skin using a gentle cleanser. If you need suggestions for a gentle cleanser, someone from our team can help you.

Note, for laser skin resurfacing in particular, you can expect your treatment area(s) to be red, swollen, itchy, and warm. This is normal following your treatment and will go away in time. You can expect about 7–10 days to heal properly, during which time you may have some increased areas of hyperpigmentation — don’t worry, this is normal and will disappear in a few days.

For all treatments, it’s very important to wear sunscreen if you plan on going outside to protect your healing skin from UV rays.

Why choose Dr. Kaplan?

  • Dr. Kaplan is a board-certified plastic surgeon with 20+ years of experience who specializes in facial rejuvenation, making him the perfect choice for your acne scar treatment.
  • We’ve helped thousands of patients achieve their desired results, including those with severe acne.
  • We offer flexible financing plans to suit your budget, including 0% and low-interest options.
  • We have offices in New Jersey and New York, we can serve patients across both states.

Location

We have two offices: one in Edgewater, NJ, and one on Madison Avenue, NYC.

New Jersey

1033 River Rd, Unit 1, Edgewater, NJ, 07020

201-710-7771

New York

4th Floor, 635 Madison Avenue, NY, 10022

212-405-3971

Schedule A Consultation

During your one-on-one consultation, Dr. Kaplan will take the time to listen to your concerns and goals and will review your scarring.

Dr. Kaplan will then suggest a treatment plan to improve the skin’s appearance and achieve the results you’re after.

Once your treatment plan has been created, we can get your appointments scheduled and answer any questions you have about the procedure or cost.

To get in touch and book a consultation, please fill out the form below: