Scar Treatments in Singapore

Acne scars • Surgical scars • Hypertrophic scars • Keloids

 

Scars are the skin’s memory of previous injuries. They form when damage extends beyond epidermis and the body attempts to repair.  Sometimes, the processes of injury and repair leave a change in texture, colour, or contour. While scars are a normal part of healing, scars become depressed or raised long after the original injury or inflammation has settled.

 

At The Skin Longevity Clinic, we treat scarring with a longevity mindset: identify the scar type, reduce ongoing inflammation, and use evidence-based techniques to remodel collagen safely in Asian skin, where post-inflammatory pigmentation risk is higher

What are scars?

 

A scar is replacement tissue that forms when an injury extends into the dermis. The body repairs the damage through overlapping stages of inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. The final remodelling phase can last up to 12 months as the scar tissue and finally settles. 

 

Why do scars occur?

 

Scars form when the skin healing and repair processes are impacted by the following factors  

 

  • Inflammation that is intense or prolonged 
  • Delayed treatment of inflammatory skin conditions 
  • Mechanical stress 
  • Genetic tendency for scarring
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Diagnosing the types and cause(s) of scars forms the foundation of an effective treatment plan.

 

1) Atrophic scars 

Atrophic scars are depressed scars due to a collagen deficit in the skin. They are the most common tyoe pf acne scars.  Atrophic scars occur when inflammation damages dermal collagen and the repair response results in insufficient collagen.

Subtypes of atophic scars

  • Ice-pick
  • Boxcar
  • Rolling 

 

2) Hypertrophic scars

Hypertrophic scars are raised scars that stay within the original wound boundary. 

 

3) Keloids

Raised scars that grow beyond the original injury and can persist or recur. They are more common in genetically predisposed individuals and certain body sites.

How can scars be treated?


There is no single “best” treatment for every scar. Evidence supports combination, scar-type–directed plans—especially for acne scarring.

 

Treatments for atrophic scars


1) Collagen stimulation

  • Microneedling: creates controlled micro-injuries that stimulate collagen and is generally safe across skin tones .
  • Fractional lasers: stimulate collagen remodelling and can improve texture. Fractional CO₂ lasers have substantial clinical evidence for improving atrophic acne scars.


2) Release of tethering 

  • Subcision: mechanically releases fibrous bands that pull scars downward. Subcision is commonly paired with collagen stimulating and resurfacing treatment for atrophic scars. 


4) Volume support 

  • Dermal fillers can improve volume loss which contributes to the appearance of certain atrophic scars in selected patients.

 

Treatments for hypertrophic scars and keloids


Evidence-based options include:

  • Silicone gel or sheets: widely recommended as first-line conservative therapy for prevention and early treatment. 
  • Intralesional corticosteroid injections: a cornerstone and commonly first-line medical procedure for keloids and hypertrophic scars . 
  • Surgery: for selected keloids when paired with treatments to reduce recurrence
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FAQs

What is the procedure like?

At The Skin Longevity Clinic, scar treatment typically follows a structured process:

1) Consultation and scar mapping
We identify:

  • scar types and dominant subtype
  • skin type and PIH risk
  • whether the patient has any ongoing injury or inflammation. 


2) Personalised plan (usually combination)
Patients may require a sequence of modalities, depending on the scar type and severity. For example, a combination of subcision and resurfacing laser is is consistent with modern acne-scar approaches, which favour multimodal treatment. 


3) Treatment session

  • Photography for documentation
  • Topical numbing 
  • Procedure performed with parameters chosen to balance results and pigment safety


4) Downtime and aftercare 

  • Recovery protocols for barrier repair and inflammation control
  • Strict UV protection (critical for reducing PIH risk) 


5) Sessions and expectations

Most scar programs require more than a single sessions spaced over time. Collagen remodelling is gradual and the scar remodeling process can occur over months.

Why choose Dr Rachel Ho and The Skin Longevity Clinic for scar treatments?

Scar treatment is a directed and personalised approach for safe and effective treatment outcomes.

Our clinic emphasises:

  • Diagnosis-first treatment according to type and subtypes 
  • Evidence-based combinations: subcision for tethering, resurfacing and combination modalities for scarring and texture. 
  • Asian-skin protocols: we plan around PIH risk and avoid unnecessary inflammation, which is central to skin longevity.

Doctor Rachel’s Takeaway

Scars are a biological outcome of wound healing. Scars can be improved treatments are individualised to treat the pathology of the scar subtype.  Consistent results come from combination therapy, delivered gradually with skin-barrier protection and pigment-safe settings, especially in Asian skin phototypes.