New to subcision? Read the full guide to acne scar subcision in Newport Beach — what it treats, how many sessions you'll need, and what recovery looks like — before booking.
A four-part protocol for tethered acne scarring, performed in a single visit by Dr. Amir Mortazavi, MD.
Depressed acne scars are not a surface problem. A rolling scar is skin tethered downward by fibrous bands beneath it — which is why resurfacing alone often disappoints. You can smooth the surface repeatedly and the depression stays, because the thing pulling it down was never addressed.
This protocol treats all four components in one session.
Subcision — a cannula is passed beneath the scar to sever the fibrous bands tethering it. The skin releases and lifts. This is the only step that addresses the tethering itself; no laser or filler does it.
Sculptra — a collagen biostimulator placed into the space created by subcision. This matters more than it sounds: without something occupying that space, the released tissue can simply re-adhere as it heals. Sculptra keeps it open while stimulating your own collagen to build in the depression.
Laser Resurfacing — addresses the surface component subcision doesn't touch: texture, pore appearance, and tone across the treated area.
Red Light Therapy — applied afterward to reduce post-procedure inflammation and support the healing response.
Why sequence matters. Release first, fill the space, resurface the surface, calm the inflammation. Done in that order, in one session, each step supports the next. Done separately across four appointments with four recoveries, the timing advantage is lost — and most practices can't do it in one visit because they don't offer all four modalities.
Best suited to: rolling scars and tethered depressions · scars that can be seen to lift when the skin is stretched · patients who have tried resurfacing alone without adequate improvement
Less suited to: narrow deep ice-pick scars, which often need TCA CROSS or punch techniques instead · boxcar scars with sharp defined edges, which respond differently · active acne, which should be controlled first
Dr. Mortazavi assesses scar type at consultation. Most faces have more than one type, and the mix determines whether this protocol is the right primary approach.
What to expect: treatment takes 60 to 90 minutes with numbing. Expect bruising — subcision causes bleeding under the skin by design, and this is more bruising than most cosmetic treatments. Plan for seven to ten days. Swelling for several days is normal.
Most patients need more than one session. Depending on scar depth and extent, typically two to four, spaced roughly six to eight weeks apart. Improvement is progressive — Sculptra's collagen contribution builds over three to six months after each session, so the result at three months is not the final result.
Realistic outcome: meaningful improvement in depth and texture. Not erasure. Scarring that took years to form does not resolve completely, and anyone promising smooth skin from a single protocol is overselling. Patients who understand that going in are consistently the ones happiest with what they get.
New to subcision? Read the full guide to acne scar subcision in Newport Beach — what it treats, how many sessions you'll need, and what recovery looks like — before booking.
A four-part protocol for tethered acne scarring, performed in a single visit by Dr. Amir Mortazavi, MD.
Depressed acne scars are not a surface problem. A rolling scar is skin tethered downward by fibrous bands beneath it — which is why resurfacing alone often disappoints. You can smooth the surface repeatedly and the depression stays, because the thing pulling it down was never addressed.
This protocol treats all four components in one session.
Subcision — a cannula is passed beneath the scar to sever the fibrous bands tethering it. The skin releases and lifts. This is the only step that addresses the tethering itself; no laser or filler does it.
Sculptra — a collagen biostimulator placed into the space created by subcision. This matters more than it sounds: without something occupying that space, the released tissue can simply re-adhere as it heals. Sculptra keeps it open while stimulating your own collagen to build in the depression.
Laser Resurfacing — addresses the surface component subcision doesn't touch: texture, pore appearance, and tone across the treated area.
Red Light Therapy — applied afterward to reduce post-procedure inflammation and support the healing response.
Why sequence matters. Release first, fill the space, resurface the surface, calm the inflammation. Done in that order, in one session, each step supports the next. Done separately across four appointments with four recoveries, the timing advantage is lost — and most practices can't do it in one visit because they don't offer all four modalities.
Best suited to: rolling scars and tethered depressions · scars that can be seen to lift when the skin is stretched · patients who have tried resurfacing alone without adequate improvement
Less suited to: narrow deep ice-pick scars, which often need TCA CROSS or punch techniques instead · boxcar scars with sharp defined edges, which respond differently · active acne, which should be controlled first
Dr. Mortazavi assesses scar type at consultation. Most faces have more than one type, and the mix determines whether this protocol is the right primary approach.
What to expect: treatment takes 60 to 90 minutes with numbing. Expect bruising — subcision causes bleeding under the skin by design, and this is more bruising than most cosmetic treatments. Plan for seven to ten days. Swelling for several days is normal.
Most patients need more than one session. Depending on scar depth and extent, typically two to four, spaced roughly six to eight weeks apart. Improvement is progressive — Sculptra's collagen contribution builds over three to six months after each session, so the result at three months is not the final result.
Realistic outcome: meaningful improvement in depth and texture. Not erasure. Scarring that took years to form does not resolve completely, and anyone promising smooth skin from a single protocol is overselling. Patients who understand that going in are consistently the ones happiest with what they get.
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