On a spectrum from successfully making a scar much less noticeable than before, to “I’ve even forgotten that I ever had a scar”, AMA’s laser scar removal protocols have the ability to transform your scars as far as is physiologically possible.
At AMA Regenerative Medicine & Skincare, we understand how traumatic scars can be, especially those on the face and other areas of your body that you don’t want to conceal. You may have tried a variety of ineffective scar removal treatments in vain that may have left you disillusioned and depressed.
We understand the frustration that scars cause our patients. This is why we have developed a unique, multiple-modality laser protocol to delicately and artfully remodel your scar, causing it to gradually blend in with the surrounding skin, giving our patients the dramatic results they are hoping for.
Explore the photos below to see individual patient results before and after laser scar removal treatment.
Every Scar is a Unique Anomaly
It is important to understand that every scar is a unique anomaly. The collagen that makes up a scar will differ in its structure depending on how the damage was inflicted, (surgical scar, burn scar, stretch mark scar, acne scar, etc.), when it was inflicted, as well as where on the body it occurred. After all, the skin on different parts of your body can be very different and therefore will scar differently.
Even within a single scar the collagen structure might be very different. For instance a scar that extends from a joint where the skin is constantly moving and stretching, to an area away from the joint where the skin stays relatively immobile.
Thus, each scar has its own unique structure that requires a unique set of energy settings and combinations necessary to “unlock its secret structural code” enabling us to effectively remodel its structure, minimizing it, smoothing it out, and blending it into the surrounding skin.
How Laser Scar Removal Works
Due to the fact that every scar is essentially an anomaly, making each scar different in composition and structure, all of our laser treatments to remove scars are customized specifically for each patient.
A typical scar removal treatment regimen consists of 5 to 7 laser treatment sessions combined with a combination of non-laser modalities such as Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT), and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).
There are five distinct phases in scar removal treatments:
Phase 1 – Color blending
When scars are formed…
- A) The scars may contain an excess of pigment making cells (melanocytes) that cause the scar to become darker than the surrounding skin;
- B) The scars may contain an excess of vascularization that causes the scar to become purple, red or pink.
- C) The scars may be devoid of either A) or B) and may therefore be lighter than the surrounding skin.
Depending on A, B, or C, a special series of treatments will blend the color to match the surrounding skin.
Phase 2 – Collagen Remodeling
Converts the scar collagen into healthy collagen.
Phase 3 – Scar Contraction
Shrinks the scar from side to side.
Phase 4 – Stimulation of New Collagen
Once the discoloration in the scar has been corrected, intense collagen treatments are carefully selected to stimulate, within the scar, the natural production of fresh, new collagen. This fills the scar with new healthy collagen.
These treatments are designed to interact with collagen fibers deep beneath your skin. This accelerates the removal old, deteriorated collagen and causes less-damaged collagen to remodel itself through your body’s own physiological processes.
Within 2 to 3 scar removal procedures the fibroblast cells that exist throughout the dermis are also stimulated to produce new, healthy, young collagen.
Phase 5 – Resurfacing with Erbium Laser
Smoothing out the surface of the scar to blend with the surrounding skin is the final step of the laser scar removal treatment.
This is done with a “laser peel”, also known as an epidermal resurfacing laser. The epidermal resurfacing laser removes a predetermined section of the surface of the skin (the dead skin cells that make of the upper layer).
This smooths the surface of the scar removing any roughness, imperfections, discoloration and fine wrinkles.
The Laser Scar Removal Process
When healing scars, here is the best way to think about it… Many different types of scars, created by many different types of events, on many different parts of the body, can be effectively treated with lasers. Usually, newer scars on a person do respond better and faster to treatment than older scars on that same person.
However, between different people that same comparison can not be made. Some people with older scars will be more responsive to treatment than other people with younger scars.
Every Patient and Every Scar is Unique
As a prerequisite, it is important for patients to understand that all scars are unique, and each is an anomaly. Thus, not only do treatment outcomes vary from patient to patient, but even on the same patient, two scars just a few inches away from each other can be very different, and will treat differently as they go through stages of remodeling and healing.
The ability to physiologically remodel scars depends on several factors.
- The cause of the scar. For instance, scars caused by burns can be significantly different the scars from other causes.
- Where the scar is on the body
- How old the scar is
- How old the person is
- Most importantly, the physiological responsiveness of the person
This is why is is so important to customize a scar removal treatment protocol for each scar and for each patient.
A Completely Natural Regeneration
The entire process is natural, wherein we stimulate the regenerative mechanisms inherent in a patient’s skin and then allow time for the skin to heal, remodel the scar and generate new tissue.
During this process we carefully observe how the skin responds, and continuously customize the protocol to achieve the maximal regeneration that the skin is capable of.
The Healing and Blending Process
As you can imagine, the scars often look worse after each treatment before they heal and look better. They are likely to be red and swollen, and in some skin types, temporary pigmentation called “post inflammatory hyperpigmentation” is common, which can be minimized with special creams and resolved after the physical scars have been treated.
With each phase, the scars progressively blend back into the surrounding skin becoming less and less noticeable.
To make all this happen, we customize Integrative Protocols, wherein we utilize over twenty different high-tech medical lasers, PRP, ozone, micro-needling, specialized homeopathic injections, subcision, (subcutaneous incisional surgery) and even stem cells.
A Series of Treatments are Needed
While some scars resolve quickly, in as few as 3 treatments, the process may take considerably longer…. from 3 to 8 to 12 treatment sessions. Accordingly, we charge by time necessary to complete each treatment session, and patients pay-as-they-go, because we never can tell just how fast a patient’s scars will heal!
Aesthetic medical procedures follow the well known “bell curve”.
In general Aesthetic medical procedures follow the well known “bell curve” graph that is typical of most biological systems. That vast majority of patients ~80% fall into the “average” category, ~10% are “slow responders” wherein they may require more treatments than the average patient, and ~10% are “super responders”, who achieve their desired results faster and with fewer treatments than the average.
Laser Scar Removal FAQs
Q. What is the best treatment to remove scars?
A. Typically we combine modalities for superior results. Your customized protocol will include a combination of micro-needling and laser treatments. Though lasers and mirco-needling are both effective therapies when used separately, the physiological response of your skin in remodeling your scar is far greater when combined. Of course ‘how’ to combine them is quite a trick, and is both a science and art. To that end we have dedicated the past 20+ years in exploring and developing the science and art of “multiple modality therapies”, and have become quite masterful therein.
Q. Can this laser treatment heal a scar from a dog bite?
A. Dog bites are more common than one would think. We have treated many such scars at our clinics.
There are several different modalities that can make a huge difference in the appearance of dog bite scars. To help the body remodel the scar tissue into healthy collagen we use ozone injections combined with “subcision”.
To stimulate the regeneration of healthy skin we use various laser technologies. In cases where there is a lot of soft tissue loss, we stimulate the regeneration of healthy new tissue with the use of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Using this type of multiple modality scar removal protocol can produce results that are absolutely spectacular.
Q. Can cigarette burn scars be removed?
A. Yes they can! We have had patients with multiple cigarette burns on various parts of their body that we have successfully treated.
To clarify, the treatments do not “remove” the scars. The scars are healed and remodeled by the skin’s own regenerative capacity. Our laser scar removal protocols are designed to interact with your physiology and accelerate the natural regenerative process. That is why our scar removal protocols work so well.
Q. Will this procedure work on a hyper-trophic scar from a rhinoplasty procedure?
A. The development of keloided or hyper-trophic scars following a surgical procedure is very common. We have many patients that come to us after they have had surgery. Yes, this procedure will work for your scar! We will develop a laser scar removal protocol that is precisely customized for your scar and skin.
Q. I have a scar on my lips from eczema. Will this laser scar treatment help?
A. Not only are the lips functional marvels, needed for eating, speech, expression and of course kissing, they are the central focus of beauty on a person’s face. Wow! Yes! We can treat scars on the lips. The treatment is very gradual and gentle.
Q. Does laser scar removal hurt?
A. We make sure the skin is well anesthetized (we have various ways of ensuring this depending on the patient) prior to any laser treatment. This ensures that both during and after treatment the patient is comfortable.
Q. Are fresh scars easier to remove than older scars?
A. You would think so.. and typically younger/newer scars on a given person do respond better and faster than older scars on the same person.
However, you can’t make that exact comparison between different people. Because some people with older scars will be more responsive than younger people with younger scars!
Bottom line, the ability to physiologically remodel scars depends on:
- What caused the scar
- Where on the body the scar is
- The age of the scar
- The age of the person
- Most importantly: The physiological responsiveness of the patient.
Given all the above, you can probably understand better why it is so important to customize the treatment protocol for each patient and every scar. We treat and observe, modify and observe, in order to engineer with our 25 different lasers, the most effective protocol for every scar.
Q. What about Keloid scars? Do Kenalog injections work for those?
A. Kenalog injections are the most widely used treatments for deflating a keloid scar. It is safe and very effective. However, if too much is injected, too much deflation can occur. That is why it is important to be sure that your doctor has the experience necessary to inject just the right amount. As in all our protocols, we take a deliberately judicious and relaxed view of arriving at the exact “sweet spot” in all of our injection therapies. By this I mean that we deliberately inject very conservatively in order to avoid injecting too much. This often means that we need to schedule additional visits with a particular patient for further injections. To date, in 14 years and many thousands of injections we have “landed softly” every time.
Learn More About Our Laser Treatments
- References - Read the Science...
Everything on our website comes from from reputable publications, books and scientific journals, most of which are available on PubMed and other government websites. These include Meta-Analysis’, Randomized Controlled Trials, Clinical Trials, Systematic Reviews, Books and Documents. We encourage you to read the science, in order to separate fact from fiction, so that you can arrive at a full understanding of what is best for your skin. We would be honored to be a part of that educational journey with you.
- Chowdhury B, Kassir M, Salas-Alanis J, Nistico S, Galadari H, Fritz K, Salavastru C, Blicharz L, Goldust M. Laser in surgical scar clearance: An update review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Dec;20(12):3808-3811. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14325. Epub 2021 Jul 14. PMID: 34213802.
- Radmanesh M, Mehramiri S, Radmanesh R. Fractional CO2 laser is as effective as pulsed dye laser for the treatment of hypertrophic scars. J Dermatolog Treat. 2021 Sep;32(6):576-579. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2019.1687821. Epub 2019 Nov 25. PMID: 31697183.
- Gauglitz GG, Pötschke J, Clementoni MT. Laser und Narben [Therapy of scars with lasers]. Hautarzt. 2018 Jan;69(1):17-26. German. doi: 10.1007/s00105-017-4072-7. PMID: 29116332.
- Khatri KA, Mahoney DL, McCartney MJ. Laser scar revision: A review. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2011 Apr;13(2):54-62. doi: 10.3109/14764172.2011.564625. PMID: 21401378.
- Elsaie ML, Choudhary S, McLeod M, Nouri K. Scars. Curr Probl Dermatol. 2011;42:131-139. doi: 10.1159/000328274. Epub 2011 Aug 16. PMID: 21865805.
- Khansa I, Harrison B, Janis JE. Evidence-Based Scar Management: How to Improve Results with Technique and Technology. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Sep;138(3 Suppl):165S-178S. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000002647. PMID: 27556757.