Scar Subcision

Subcision Results Examples

Our Approach

What is Subcision ?

Subcision is a specialized dermatological treatment designed to correct atrophic acne scars (sunken scars), particularly rolling and boxcar types. The technique involves mechanically releasing the fibrous bands beneath the skin that tether the surface and create visible depressions.

Performed by a qualified medical professional, subcision helps loosen the scar tissue, stimulate collagen production, and promote the skin’s natural lifting and remodeling, all without the need for surgery.

To understand how subcision works, it’s important to first understand how certain scars form. When acne is deep or inflammatory, it can damage the deeper layers of the skin. In response, the body produces collagen fibers to heal the area. However, these fibers may contract and pull the skin inward, resulting in a sunken scar.

Imagine the skin like a tent: when one of its ropes (representing a tight collagen band) is too short or too tight, it pulls the fabric downward, creating a dip. Subcision involves cutting this rope, allowing the skin to rise and return to a more even surface.

Subcision is particularly effective for:

• Atrophic acne scars (rolling, boxcar)

• Depressed post-surgical or traumatic scars

• As a complement to other treatments like microneedling, laser, TCA peels, or EnerJet

It is less effective for ice pick scars (deep, narrow “pinpoint” scars), which typically require different approaches such as TCA CROSS or fractional lasers.

Types of Acne Scars

• Ice pick scar: Very narrow and deep scar shaped like a “V”.
• Rolling scar: Shallow or deep scar with a wide, round or oval appearance.
• Boxcar scar: Scar with defined edges that create a square or rectangular shape.
• Hypertrophic scar: Raised scar that protrudes outward from the skin surface.
• Atrophic scar: Deep, crater-like scar that appears sunken.
• Post-inflammatory erythema: Smooth scar that appears red due to inflammation.

How Subcision Works

Our Approach

We are one of the few clinics in Canada with full medical expertise to treat a wide range of acne scar types. For moderate to severe cases, cosmetic treatments and topical products are simply not enough. No cream ,no matter how advanced can correct a tissue deformation that originates several millimeters below the surface of the skin.

Deep acne scars are often the result of a flawed healing process, where the body prioritizes quick wound closure over cosmetic appearance. This leads to fibrous adhesions that form between the dermis and deeper layers, anchoring the skin and creating the sunken, uneven appearance of atrophic scars.

This is where subcision becomes essential: this minor surgical technique is designed to cut and release the abnormal collagen fibers pulling the skin downward. By freeing the scar from these tethers, the area can lift and regenerate naturally over time.

A personalized treatment plan for every patient

Every scar must be evaluated individually to determine the best approach. It’s common for a single face to display multiple scar types, requiring a combination of techniques to achieve optimal results.

Some scars need to be mechanically released through subcision before any other procedure can be effective. Others especially deeper or more fibrotic ones ,require treatment at depths greater than 5 mm beneath the surface.

Complementary technologies and techniques

Depending on the severity and nature of the scars, we may incorporate the following methods:

• Minor surgery
• Medical chemical peels (small or large areas)
• Laser resurfacing
• Deep medical microneedling
• Fractional radiofrequency
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy
• Dermal volumizing injections
• And other advanced techniques

At Clinique Infinium, surgical subcision is one of our most frequently used methods for deep acne scars. It breaks the fibrous bands anchoring the scar, stimulates collagen regeneration, and helps restore tissue elasticity.

Subcision is one of the few treatments that targets the root cause of atrophic scars, addressing the structural adhesions beneath the skin. It is ideal for patients seeking long-lasting, medically sound solutions,those who understand that deep scars require more than just surface-level cosmetic care.

Additional Solutions Offered for Acne Scar Treatment