Subcision

Latest update: May 03, 2024
Medically reviewed by: Jordan Frey, MD

Details

Subcision is a minor surgical procedure. It is performed under local anesthetic and can resolve various skin issues, including depressed or indented scars from acne or surgery, wrinkles, and cellulite dimples. These depressed scars form when the fibers below the skin are pulled downwards, causing an indented appearance.

During the procedure, the professionals first numb the area with an injection of a local anesthetic. They insert a small, hypodermic needle into the skin, creating a small opening. The needle severs the fibrotic strands pulling the skin downward. This will cause the skin to elevate and level out. The injury caused by this procedure will stimulate a healing response in the body and lead to collagen production that remodels the scar over time.

While the treatment produces long-lasting effects, it can never entirely remove the scars. It only helps to minimize their appearance. The number of sessions needed may vary depending on the patient and the severity of the scars.
Anesthesia
local
Operation Time
1-2
Inpatient Period
n/a
Number of Appointments
1-2
Recovery Period
1 week
Invasiveness
yes

How To Treat DEEP ACNE SCARS | What is SUBCISION?

This video from Contour Clinics talks about the treatment of deep acne scars using Subcision. The video defines the procedure and talks about how it works. The practitioner explains why the scars appear the way they do and talks about how this condition is fixed. Animations illustrate the procedure.

Subcision + Filler for Acne Scars

Dr. Ben Behnam, from Santa Monica, California, talks about transforming a patient's face using Subcision and fillers. The patient had severe acne scars and while there are a variety of treatment options open for this kind of problem, Dr. Behnam opted to use Subcision and fillers. We find out why this was preferred and see whether the treatment made a difference.