Subcision Acne Scar Treatment
Acne scarring can disfigure the skin surface and cause significant loss of self-esteem. Scarring that results from acne occurs when inflammation in the dermis damages collagen — and as it heals, fibrous bands can tether the overlying skin downward, creating the depressed appearance characteristic of rolling and tethered boxcar scars.
What Is Subcision?
Subcision is a minor surgical procedure where a fine needle is inserted beneath the depressed scar and moved in a fanning motion to cut the fibrous bands tethering the skin downward. Once these bands are released, the skin can return to its natural surface level — and the resultant haematoma (blood pooling) stimulates new collagen deposition beneath the scar as it heals.
Subcision works best for rolling and wide boxcar scars. Ice pick scars — narrow and deep — are better addressed by TCA CROSS or laser resurfacing. Dr Sin Yong assesses each individual scar type and selects the most appropriate modality or combination approach.
Subcision is most effective when combined with other scar treatments — dermal fillers to support the released scar, fractional laser to resurface the skin, and TCA CROSS for any concurrent ice pick scars. This is the foundation of Dr Sin Yong's 4D Scar Reconstruction protocol.