The area is numbed with topical and/or local anesthesia beforehand, so most patients report a sensation of pressure and movement rather than sharp pain. You'll feel the instrument working beneath the skin, which is an unusual sensation but not a painful one. Afterward the treated area feels tender and tight for several days, comparable to a bruise, and is managed with cold compresses and paracetamol.

Typically seven to fourteen days. This is the most visible downtime of any acne scar treatment we offer, and we would rather you plan around it than be surprised by it. Most patients schedule subcision with two clear weeks before any significant event. Bruising is expected — it is a sign the bands were released, not a sign something went wrong.

Because released fibrous bands can re-adhere as the tissue heals, which brings the scar back. Placing PRF or Bellafill® into the released space acts as both a spacer and a healing stimulus, keeping the tissue planes separated while new collagen forms. It substantially improves how durable the result is, and it is the step that most distinguishes a good subcision from a disappointing one.

Typically one to three, spaced four to six weeks apart, depending on scar severity and how your skin responds. Results build progressively over eight to twelve weeks as new collagen forms in the released space. We reassess between sessions rather than committing you to a package up front.

Ice-pick scars, no — they are narrow, deep punctures with no tether to cut, and need CO₂ resurfacing or punch excision. Some broad boxcar scars are partially tethered and may lift, but their sharp edges still require resurfacing afterward. Subcision is precisely, specifically for rolling and tethered scars. Using it on the wrong scar type is a waste of your money and your downtime.

Yes, and it usually should be. Subcision releases tethered scars from beneath; laser resurfaces texture from above. They solve different problems and neither substitutes for the other. Resurfacing typically follows subcision by around six weeks, once the initial healing has settled and the released tissue has begun to stabilise.

Yes, and it has an advantage over ablative lasers here: subcision does not rely on heat or light, so it avoids the primary mechanism by which lasers cause pigmentation problems in deeper skin. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is still possible from the inflammation of healing, so conservative technique, careful aftercare, and strict sun protection matter. Dr. Kotecha treats all Fitzpatrick skin types.

Patients with active acne, active skin infection, a keloid tendency, certain bleeding disorders, or those taking anticoagulant therapy. Active acne in particular should be well controlled before any scar revision begins. Hypertrophic and keloid scars can be worsened by the controlled injury of subcision, so raised scars require assessment before anything is planned.

Pricing starts from $650 per session and depends on how many scars are treated and how large an area is covered. PRF and Bellafill® are priced separately, since not every patient has one placed. Full pricing is reviewed transparently at your consultation before you commit to anything, and financing is available.