“I had subcision done with Dr. Ort and couldn’t be more pleased with the results! I had a significant amount of large rolling and boxcar acne scars on both cheeks. These scars were about 10 years old, so I was honestly just hoping for moderate improvement. I am beyond happy with the results and would definitely recommend Dr. Ort.“
( This testimonial is an actual patient review posted on the RealSelf website )
Many people consider acne to be a rite of passage, yet it can leave permanent scars that cause significant distress. We are a regional center of excellence in the treatment of acne scarring. It’s a great feeling when patients with acne scars can finally look in the mirror without feeling self-conscious about their appearance.
Our acne scar patients come from all over the Rocky Mountain region including Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Denver, and Colorado Springs. Many patients travel from other states to have their acne scars treated by Dr. Ort.
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Types of Acne Scars
Most patients have more than one type of acne scar! It is very important that you choose your doctor wisely. Dr. Richard Ort has treated acne scars with advanced techniques for several decades. His artisan vision and masterful techniques yield eye-pleasing success. Acne scars can appear beyond the face and neck. Here are some graphic representations of the general type of acne scars.
RED Scars ( not shown ) – Flat, red or purple at the site of previous acne pimples.
What is the Best Treatment for Acne Scars
Before deciding on the best treatment for your acne scars; it is very important to determine what types of scars are present. The best treatment for acne scars depends on many factors; including the type of acne scar, your skin type, and your tolerance for downtime.The following are the most common treatments that we perform for acne scars.
Subcision Technique to Repair Acne Scars
Many patients seek Dr. Ort for his expertise in subcision. His 25+ years of experience and skillful technique provides great success in the repair of acne scarring.
As an explanation, the skin area is numbed with local anesthetic to ensure patient comfort. The technique utilizes a special needle which is gently passed under the skin to release sunken scars and provide visible lifting. Dr. Ort usually prefers using a blunt cannula rather than a sharp needle. Using a cannula typically reduces the amount of downtime and risk for side-effects.
Subcision is especially useful for treating Rolling Acne Scars. They often show dramatic improvement after subcision.
Dr. Ort oftens combines subcision with Fillers in the same session. Patients may experience some bruising and swelling after subcision. We recommend taking a few days rest afterwards.
TCA CROSS; Process to Help Fill & Smooth Acne Scars
Dr. Ort treats Ice Pick Scars with TCA CROSS (chemical reconstruction of skin scars). A strong percentage of trichloracetic acid (TCA) is precisely applied into each scar. A small injury is produced which leaves a scab for about a week. Over time, the healing process fills in and smooths the scar. Most patients benefit from repeat treatments done every six weeks for a total of five or six sessions.
TCA CROSS is beneficial because the TCA is applied to the entire depth of the scar. Most other treatments don’t penetrate deeply enough to improve Ice Pick Scars. TCA CROSS is very technique-sensitive. Which means that treatment success and safety depends on who is performing the treatment. Dr. Ort has been performing TCA CROSS for over two decades!
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Laser Treatments To Improve Skin Texture Damaged From Acne Scars
We specialize in fractional laser resurfacing to treat acne scars. Fractional laser creates thousands of tiny wounds, leaving the skin intact between the wounds. Fractional lasers work best for shallow Boxcar Scars. Fractional lasers are either non-ablative or ablative.
Our non-ablative fractional laser provides gentle, yet deep healing of the skin and has minimal downtime. A series of treatments improves skin texture and softens acne scars. Non-ablative laser is well-suited to treat patients with skin of color.
Ablative lasers, such as CO2 lasers produce more visible thermal injuries in the skin. There is some scabbing and swelling, but healing is typically predictable and rapid (less than one week of downtime).
Treatments with fractional CO2 laser leaves the skin visibly tighter with smoothing of acne scars and wrinkles. Dr. Ort has also been performing CO2 laser resurfacing for over 25 years!
We also use pulsed dye laser (PDL) to improve red or purple acne scars. A series of gentle PDL treatments results in fading or elimination of red or purple acne scars
Microneedling to Stimulate Collagen Production for Acne Scars
Microneedling is one of our most popular treatments for acne scars. It creates thousands of tiny injuries in the skin which stimulates a healing response and new collagen production. We utilize the SkinPen technology which has a long track record of safety an efficacy. SkinPen enables precise selection of needle depth; with up to 2 mm for more severe acne scars.
Microneedling leaves the skin looking pink with minimal downtime. We recommend a series of five treatments for best results. Numbing cream is applied to the skin before the treatment to maximize patient comfort. Microneedling can be safely performed on all skin types.
Cosmetic Fillers Used to Support & Lift Acne Scars
Dr. Ort often injects fillers such as Restylane Lyft or Radiesse under depressed acne scars to lift and support the scar. This non-invasive treatment provides immediate improvement and is particularly useful for Rolling Acne Scars. Dr. Ort also injects shallow fillers such as Belotero into Boxcar Scars. Fillers are often combined with Subcision for best results.
The fillers we use are FDA-approved and have a long history (decades) of safe use. Generally, Bellafill is a permanent filler that is sometimes used to treat acne scars. However, we DO NOT use Bellafill as it has a higher risk for side effects.
Botox as a Resource to Skin Weakness & Wrinkles from Acne Scars
Many patients with acne scars develop premature wrinkle lines as they age. An acne scar represents an area of skin weakness. Wrinkle lines tend to develop within those weak areas, especially on the forehead, temples, and cheeks. In order to prevent these premature wrinkles, we often recommend Botox. Botox is a quick, simple treatment with no subsequent downtime. It is the single most popular cosmetic treatment in our practice.
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There are many treatments available for acne scars, but there is NO “one size fits all” solution or approach. The correct treatment must be selected based on “what’s right for you”. We look forward to repair, heal, smooth, and improve the appearance of your skin.
