Dermal Fillers as Treatment for Acne Scarring

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

Many people are becoming aware of just how versatile cosmetic dermal fillers can be when it comes to restoring lost facial volume, filling lines and wrinkles or enhancing full, kissable lips. It may be less well known, however, that facial scars can be minimized with the use of dermal fillers. Acne scarring, in particular, responds well to the precision application of dermal fillers.

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide found naturally in the skin and our connective tissue. Hyaluronic acid is hydrophilic – drawing water into itself and binding it to form a viscous substance which assists in hydration and skin elasticity. As our skin ages, it loses hyaluronic acid, becomes increasingly dehydrated and more prone to wrinkling.

HA dermal fillers are crosslinked to maintain stability and resist the body’s natural metabolism. This way they can hold form and stay in place for 6 months or more. Your scar treatment may last 6 months to 1 year depending on the type of filler used and your body’s metabolism of the product.

Five common types of acne scars can remain on a person’s complexion long after their acne outbreaks have resolved. These types include:

• Ice pick scars, which form small pits in the skin.
• Boxcar scars which appear to have the appearance of a small crater with the edges being defined and angular.
• Rolling scars, which commonly appear on the cheeks, have a wavy appearance and change the overall skin texture.
• Hypertrophic scars become raised and darker, instead of sunken in. They can fade over time.
• Keloid scarring results when collagen overgrows and expands beyond the border of the original wound. Keloids usually have a smooth surface and a pink or purple color. They are irregularly shaped and will enlarge progressively over time, unlike other scars which may fade and diminish as they age. Keloid scars can be itchy and feel irritated.

DERMAL FILLERS

Dermal fillers add volume to an area so they are particularly helpful for filling in sunken scars and indents. They are excellent for overall smoothing and evening out the skin’s complexion, as well as filling in deep scars with defined edges. The amount of product which your injector will use to fill any particular scar will vary and depends on the size of the area to be filled, overall skin texture and the patient’s goals. Your injector will let you know what to expect before treatment.

Hyaluronic acid based fillers such as Belotero, Juvederm, or Restylane can all be excellent choices for treatment of scars and within these product lines are a variety of options. Because injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid draws moisture as well as stimulates collagen synthesis, the long-term benefits to smoothing scarred skin and retexturizing are very promising. Dermal fillers provide instant improvement and continue to modify over the next few months.

Your Injector may apply a topical numbing agent to reduce the sensation of needles, although the needles used for dermal filler injection are extremely fine and discomfort is minimal. Minor swelling may result for a day or two. Be sure to avoid known blood thinners such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Midol and Omega fatty acid supplements two weeks prior to treatment in order to help reduce your risk of bruising. If you do see any bruising post-treatment, topical creams or gels with Arnica can be helpful to reduce their appearance.

If you are interested in what dermal fillers can do for the look of your acne scars, book a consultation with an experienced, qualified injector to talk about your needs and all of the options available to you.