REPIC Clinic Myeongdong — Dermatology Clinic

Acne scars and other scars

Scars are a shape problem first and a color problem second. A dented boxcar scar, a narrow icepick, a raised keloid and a red mark each need a different tool.

Three shapes of acne scar

Acne scars differ in cross-section. Most faces have more than one type, so we combine treatments area by area.

Ice pickSkin surface
Ice pickNarrow and deep, like a puncture. Stretching the skin does not flatten it.
BoxcarSkin surface
BoxcarSharp edges and a flat floor. Usually wider across.
RollingSkin surfaceTethering bands
RollingA soft, wave-like dip. Bands underneath pull the skin down.

What usually causes it

  1. 01

    Boxcar and rolling scars (dented, tethered)

    Wide dents with sharp or sloping edges. A fibrous band under the scar pulls the surface down, so filling from the top alone does not hold.

    How we tell them apart

    • The dent softens or disappears when you stretch the skin
    • Wider than it is deep, with a flat or sloped floor
    • Worst on the cheeks and temples

    What we'd suggest, by cause

  2. 02

    Icepick scars (narrow, deep)

    Pinpoint holes that go deep. They are the hardest type to treat, and our usual combination is the practical answer rather than the textbook one.

    How we tell them apart

    • Small openings you can hardly see the bottom of
    • Do not flatten when the skin is stretched
    • Often on the nose and central cheeks

    What we'd suggest, by cause

  3. 03

    Stretch marks

    Torn dermis from fast stretching. Red ones are newer and respond more; white ones are older and set.

    How we tell them apart

    • Parallel lines on thighs, hips, belly, arms or breasts
    • Red or purple means recent; silver-white means old
    • Slightly sunken to the touch

    What we'd suggest, by cause

  4. 04

    Keloids and raised scars

    Scar tissue that grows beyond the original wound and keeps growing. Common on the chest, shoulders, jaw and earlobes.

    How we tell them apart

    • Raised, firm, sometimes itchy or tender
    • Bigger than the injury that caused it
    • Family members have them too

    What we'd suggest, by cause

  5. 05

    Red marks and white marks

    Red marks are vessels still active in healing tissue. White, flat marks have already scarred down: there is less to gain, but they rarely come back.

    How we tell them apart

    • Red or pink flat marks where spots used to be
    • Redness fades when you press on it
    • White flat patches that have not changed in a long time

    What we'd suggest, by cause

    • Gold Toning

      Toning that targets the redness (dilated vessels) left around the scar.

      See all related treatments

    • Resurfacing (case by case)

      White, settled scars can still improve a little. Gains are modest, recurrence is rare.

Treatment, sessions, spacing and downtime by type

These are general figures. The actual number of sessions and spacing are set at your visit, around your scars and your dates in Korea.

TreatmentBest forSessionsSpacingDowntime
REPIC Scar Care (subcision + CureJet + Juvelook Volume)Boxcar, rollingProgrammes of 1, 3 or 5 sessionsExplained at your consultationExplained at your consultation
CO2 laserIce pick, scar edgesExplained at your consultationExplained at your consultationExplained at your consultation
PotenzaBoxcar, rolling (supporting)Explained at your consultationExplained at your consultationRedness and swelling 1–3 days, full recovery 5–7 days (makeup after 24–48 hours)
Juvelook VolumeBoxcar, rolling (density under the dip)Usually 32–4 weeks1–3 days (small bumps, redness, light bruising)

Results and recovery vary from person to person.

Diagnosis comes first

What we look for first is the scar type and how the skin around it moves. Rolling scars flatten when you stretch the skin; icepicks do not. Color tells us the age of the scar. That decides whether we cut the tether underneath, resurface the top, or just treat the color.

At the Myeongdong clinic a consultant goes through your concern with you, and the Mark-Vu/Meta-Vu scan and report set the plan from there.

Good to know

  • Younger skin tends to respond better. Past the late 20s the response is usually less, though still worthwhile.
  • Active acne gets controlled first. Treating scars on skin that is still breaking out is a waste of money.
  • Scar work is a series, not a single visit. Ask how many sessions before you book flights.
  • Subcision and CO2 have real downtime: redness, swelling and crusting. Leave a buffer before you fly.

Common questions

  • Can acne scars be removed completely?

    No. They can be made a lot less visible, and the stretch test at the consult gives a realistic sense of how much. No one can promise a complete result, and we will not.

  • How much downtime does scar treatment have?

    Subcision and CO2 leave you red, swollen and crusted for a while, so do not plan to fly home the next morning. Potenza and Re2O are lighter. We schedule by your travel dates.

  • Is it worth treating old scars from years ago?

    Usually yes for dented scars, since the tether underneath can still be cut. White, flat scars gain less. The consult will tell you which you have.

Other concerns

Results vary from person to person. A doctor decides on treatment after examining you, and nothing on this page is a promise of outcome.