| Scar removal is somewhat like laying out a new road | | | | elements has caused it to lose its lustrous |
| surface: maybe you can still drive on the old road, | | | | appearance. This procedure can be done quickly and |
| but the new surface makes it smoother and more | | | | is minimally invasive, and is appropriate for acne-prone |
| attractive. New technology in laser surgery promises | | | | people or those who simply want to tone up their |
| to give you a better ride than ever before. | | | | skin appearance. |
| A scar occurs as part of the healing process of a | | | | • Chemical peels involve the application of a |
| wound. After a wound becomes inflamed, new tissue | | | | chemical that removes the epidermis, or top layer of |
| forms. Collagen is a protein found in connective tissue | | | | the skin. Doing this stimulates the production of new |
| that supports the skin and bone structure; when too | | | | collagen and causes the skin to regenerate itself, |
| much of it is left in a wound, a scar forms. Severe | | | | often improving its appearance. |
| scars, such as those left from burns, often require | | | | • Laser skin resurfacing involves the use of a laser |
| surgery. More superficial scars can be minimized or | | | | to destroy flawed skin cells. New skin cells will grow |
| removed with less-invasive treatments. | | | | to replace these. |
| There are three main types of scars: | | | | • Filler injections involve injecting filler material |
| • Atrophic, or skin depressions such as acne scars | | | | under the skin, using a tiny needle. This procedure |
| • Hypertrophic, or elevated scars found usually on | | | | generally involves multiple treatments. |
| the margin of the wound | | | | Laser Removal Procedure |
| • Keloid, or elevated scars that extend beyond | | | | For atrophic scars, the laser is moved along the scar |
| the wound site | | | | during the removal procedure. This vaporizes, or |
| Treatments for Scars | | | | removes, the top layer of skin. The more |
| • Microdermabrasion involves the use of particles | | | | natural-looking skin lying underneath will heal over time |
| to rub away the top layer of damaged skin. Crystals | | | | and minimize the scar appearance. Fraxel treatment |
| are driven across the outer skin at high velocity by | | | | for scars works especially well for thin atrophic scars. |
| air pressure, essentially buffing the skin and removing | | | | Older, bigger, or deeper scars usually require more |
| a very thin segment of the outmost layer. This | | | | treatments. |
| "dead" skin is removed because exposure to the | | | | |