Subcision: The Definitive Treatment for Deep and Tethered Acne Scars
- Welcome to Skin Infinity, the leading destination for advanced acne scar revision. If you suffer from deep, depressed scars—often called rolling scars—that pull your skin down and create an uneven texture, Subcision is the treatment engineered specifically for you.
- Subcision, or Subcutaneous Incisionless Surgery, is a minimally invasive technique that directly targets the root cause of these scars: the fibrous bands that tether the skin’s surface to the deeper subcutaneous tissue. By physically breaking these bands, the procedure allows the depressed scar to immediately lift and initiates a powerful, long-term collagen production response to permanently smooth the skin’s surface.
Why Subcision is Crucial for Rolling and Depressed Scars
Surface treatments like simple microneedling or peels often fail to address scars that are anchored deep within the skin. Subcision is the essential first step for significantly improving these types of scarring.
Key Benefits and Indications:
Releases Tethered Scars
It is the only procedure that physically severs the fibrous attachments responsible for the 'pitted' or 'valley' appearance of rolling scars.
Ideal for Rolling Scars
Highly effective on the broad, wave-like depressions common on the cheeks and temples.
Immediate Lift
The release of the tethering bands provides an immediate, noticeable lift to the scar base.
Long-Term Collagenesis
The controlled trauma beneath the skin stimulates sustained production of new, healthy collagen and elastin over several months, ensuring permanent improvement.
Enhances Other Treatments
Often combined with dermal fillers, CO2 laser, or RF microneedling to maximize final outcomes.
Understanding the Subcision Procedure at Skin Infinity
We use specialized tools, such as the Nokor needle or blunt-tipped cannulas, chosen based on the depth and nature of your specific scars to ensure precision and safety.
The Treatment Process
Preparation & Numbing
The area is cleansed, and local anesthesia (often Tumescent Anesthesia) is precisely injected to numb the site and further separate the skin planes, making the procedure virtually painless.
The Subcision Phase
A sterile, specialized needle or cannula is inserted through a tiny puncture point adjacent to the scar.
Fibrous Band Release
The instrument is gently moved in a controlled back-and-forth, fan-like motion beneath the skin to manually break and release the fibrotic strands tethering the scar.
Healing Stimulus
The resulting tiny space under the scar fills with blood (a hematoma) which, while temporary, acts as a scaffold for new collagen growth, preventing the scar from re-tethering
What to Expect Post-Procedure
- Downtime: The most visible sign is bruising and swelling, which is a necessary part of the healing process. Bruising typically peaks at 2-3 days and subsides within 7 to 14 days.
- Initial Recovery: You may feel mild soreness or tightness for the first 48 hours. Most patients are socially comfortable within 7–10 days.
- Results Timeline: Initial lift is immediate, but true, long-lasting improvement occurs over 3 to 6 months as your body produces new collagen to smooth out the skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of acne scars does Subcision treat best?
Subcision is the gold standard for treating rolling scars—the wide, depressed, wave-like scars that are tethered deep within the skin. It can also be beneficial for severe, depressed boxcar scars but is generally not used for narrow, deep ice pick scars.
Is Subcision a permanent treatment for acne scars?
Yes. Once the fibrous bands are released and new collagen forms in their place, the correction achieved is permanent. However, like any procedure, we often recommend a series of 2-4 sessions for optimal correction, depending on scar severity
How long does Subcision recovery/downtime last?
The primary downtime involves swelling and bruising. The most noticeable bruising takes about 7-14 days to fully resolve. Most patients can return to work or school within 2-3 days, using makeup to cover residual bruising after the first 24 hours
Is Subcision painful?
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia (both topical and injected numbing fluid) to ensure a virtually pain-free experience during the treatment itself. Post-procedure discomfort is minimal and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers
Can Subcision be combined with other scar treatments?
Absolutely. Subcision often serves as the foundation for deep scar treatment and is routinely combined with Dermal Fillers (to hold the released scar up), CO2 Fractional Laser, or RF Microneedling in the same or subsequent sessions for total skin rejuvenation