What we treat
Acne scars and texture
Scars from old acne, rough or bumpy texture, enlarged pores and the pink or brown marks that linger after a breakout. These respond well to treatment, but it takes a series, and the type of scar decides the tool.
Why it happens
When a breakout heals, the skin either overproduces collagen (a raised scar) or underproduces it (a pitted scar). Pitted scars come in three shapes: shallow rolling scars, sharp boxcar scars, and deep narrow ice-pick scars. Rolling and boxcar scars respond best to energy-based treatments. Ice-pick scars often need a different approach, and we will say so.
What we recommend
Microneedling, usually with PRP or exosomes
The workhorse for texture and shallow scarring. Three to six sessions, a month apart, each with about two days of pinkness. Adding PRP or exosomes speeds the result.
Morpheus8 for deeper rolling scars
Radiofrequency through the needles reaches deeper than microneedling alone and remodels the tethered tissue under rolling scars. Three sessions is the usual plan.
CO2 laser for the biggest single change
Fractional CO2 resurfaces the whole area and is the strongest option for boxcar scars. One or two sessions, each with about a week of downtime.
PicoSure for the marks acne leaves behind
Post-inflammatory dark spots are pigment, not scar tissue. PicoSure clears them without heat and is safe on skin tones where CO2 would be risky.
What we would tell you honestly
Active acne gets treated before scars do; resurfacing inflamed skin makes things worse. Expect improvement of roughly 50 to 70 percent over a series, not a blank canvas. Anyone promising complete removal of pitted scars is overselling.
Want to know which kind of scarring you have?
Book a consultation. Dr. Donlan will examine your skin, listen to what is bothering you, and recommend a plan. Sometimes that plan is one treatment. Sometimes it is no treatment yet.
Schedule a consultationResults vary from person to person. A consultation is where we figure out what makes sense for you.