Still dealing with scars from acne you had years ago? Those pitted marks, uneven texture, and dark spots that makeup can’t hide?
You’re not alone. Acne scarring affects about 40% of people who had moderate to severe acne. The good news? We can significantly improve how those scars look.
Manhattan Laser Spa offers multiple treatment options for acne scarring in Fort Lauderdale. From laser resurfacing to microneedling to specialized techniques for deep scars, we’ll create a plan that actually works for your specific scar type.
Before we talk about treating scars, let’s address something important. If you’re still breaking out regularly, we need to control that first.
Here’s why: treating scars while you’re still getting new acne is like trying to fix a leaking roof while it’s still raining. You’ll keep forming new scars.
We can help with active acne too. Prescription medications, chemical peels, and laser treatments all help clear breakouts. Once your acne is under control for at least 3-6 months, then we tackle the scarring.
Most people don’t realize there are different types of acne scars. Knowing which type you have matters because different treatments work for different scars.
These are deep, narrow pits that look like someone poked your skin with a tiny ice pick. They’re the most common type and also the trickiest to treat.
They go deep into the skin, sometimes all the way to the dermis. Regular laser treatments don’t always reach that deep.
Best treatments: TCA CROSS, punch excision, ablative laser
Round or oval depressions with sharp, defined edges. Think of little boxes pressed into your skin.
They’re usually wider than ice pick scars but not as deep. They respond well to several treatments.
Best treatments: Fractional laser, subcision, dermal fillers, TCA CROSS
Wave-like depressions that give your skin an uneven, rolling appearance. These form because of fibrous bands pulling the skin down from underneath.
Best treatments: Subcision (this is the gold standard for rolling scars), laser resurfacing, microneedling
Some people develop thick, raised scars instead of indented ones. These are less common with acne but do happen, especially on the chest, back, or jawline.
Best treatments: Steroid injections, laser treatment, sometimes surgical removal
Technically not scars, but people often call them that. These flat, dark spots left behind after acne heals respond really well to treatment.
Best treatments: Chemical peels, laser, topical medications.
We offer several treatments. Most people need a combination approach because most people have a mix of scar types.
This is the heavy hitter for acne scars. The laser creates thousands of tiny treatment zones in your skin, removing damaged tissue and triggering collagen production.
What it treats: All types of atrophic (indented) scars, texture issues, pigmentation
Recovery: 7-14 days of redness and peeling
Sessions needed: Usually 3-5 treatments
Best for: Boxcar scars, shallow ice pick scars, overall texture improvement
The CO2 laser gives the most dramatic results, but it also has the longest downtime. Plan to take about a week off work and social activities.
Tiny needles create controlled micro-injuries while delivering radiofrequency energy into the deeper skin layers. This stimulates massive collagen production.
What it treats: Rolling scars, shallow boxcar scars, texture, mild ice pick scars
Recovery: 3-5 days of redness and minor flaking
Sessions needed: 4-6 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart
Best for: People who can’t handle laser downtime but still want real results
Microneedling won’t give results as dramatic as CO2 laser, but it’s gentler and works for all skin tones with lower risk of pigmentation issues.
This is a specialized technique where we apply high-concentration TCA acid directly into individual ice pick scars with a tiny applicator.
The acid causes controlled injury at the base of the scar, stimulating collagen that literally fills the scar from the bottom up.
What it treats: Deep ice pick scars
Recovery: 5-7 days of scabbing over treated spots
Sessions needed: 2-4 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart
Best for: Those deep, narrow pits that other treatments don’t reach
This part’s tricky: TCA CROSS only works on ice pick scars. It won’t help boxcar or rolling scars.
A needle or small blade is inserted under the scar to break up the fibrous bands pulling the skin down. This releases the scar so it can rise to the level of surrounding skin.
Think of it like cutting the anchor ropes holding a boat underwater.
What it treats: Rolling scars, some boxcar scars
Recovery: 7-14 days of bruising and swelling
Sessions needed: 1-3 treatments
Best for: Rolling scars and tethered depressions
Subcision causes significant bruising. You’ll look like you got punched. But for rolling scars, nothing works better.
We inject hyaluronic acid filler under depressed scars to physically raise them to skin level.
What it treats: Boxcar scars, some rolling scars, isolated deep depressions
Recovery: Immediate, maybe minor swelling
Duration: 6-18 months (temporary)
Best for: Quick improvement for special events, or testing results before permanent treatments
Bellafill is a semi-permanent filler specifically FDA-approved for acne scars. It lasts years instead of months.
Medium-depth chemical peels improve texture and fade dark marks. They work on surface-level scarring and pigmentation.
What it treats: Shallow scars, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, overall texture
Recovery: 7-10 days of peeling
Sessions needed: 3-6 treatments
Best for: Superficial scarring and pigmentation issues
Peels alone won’t fix deep scars. But they’re great for improving overall texture and evening out skin tone.
Here’s what most people don’t realize: you probably need multiple types of treatments.
If you have ice pick scars, rolling scars, boxcar scars, and dark spots all together (which most people do), no single treatment fixes everything.
A typical treatment plan might look like this:
This takes 6-12 months and multiple sessions. But that’s how you get 60-80% improvement instead of 20-30%.
Let’s be brutally honest. We can’t make your skin look like you never had acne.
Acne scars involve permanent changes to your skin structure. We’re working with damaged collagen and altered skin architecture.
Realistic expectations:
Sixty percent improvement is life-changing. Your scars become much less noticeable. Makeup applies better. You feel more confident.
But perfect, completely smooth skin? That’s not realistic for most people with moderate to severe scarring.
Anyone promising 100% scar removal is lying to you.
Recovery depends on which treatment you get.
Laser resurfacing: Your face will be red, swollen, and oozing for the first few days. You’ll peel for about a week. Pink skin lasts 2-4 weeks. Full healing takes 3-6 months.
Microneedling: Red and slightly swollen for 2-3 days. Light flaking for a few more days. Back to normal by day 5-7.
Subcision: Significant bruising for 1-2 weeks. Swelling for a few days. You’ll look rough.
TCA CROSS: Small scabs form over treated scars. They fall off in 5-7 days. Temporary darkening for a few weeks.
Fillers: Minimal downtime. Maybe some swelling for 24 hours.
Plan treatments around your schedule. Don’t get aggressive laser work done right before your friend’s wedding.
Here’s the challenge with treating acne scars in Fort Lauderdale. The sun.
After laser, microneedling, or chemical peels, your skin is incredibly vulnerable to sun damage. New skin has zero protection. UV exposure can cause permanent dark spots that are worse than your original scars.
In Fort Lauderdale, you’re outside year-round. Beach days, boat trips, outdoor dining on Las Olas. That’s tough when you need to avoid sun completely during healing.
Our advice:
Time treatments for when you’ll be indoors most. Fall and winter are better than summer. Plan treatments around vacations, not before them.
Wear SPF 50+ every single day. Reapply every 2 hours if you’re outside. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Sit in the shade.
Skip treatments if you have a Caribbean cruise or beach vacation coming up in the next 4 weeks.
Take sun protection seriously. We’ve seen people undo months of progress with one day at Fort Lauderdale Beach without proper protection.
You’re probably a good candidate if:
You might not be a candidate if:
During your consultation, we’ll assess your scars, discuss realistic outcomes, and create a treatment plan that works for your situation.
Pricing varies widely based on scar severity and treatment needed.
Single treatment costs:
Most people need multiple sessions of multiple treatments. A comprehensive treatment plan typically runs $3,000-8,000+ over 6-12 months.
We offer package pricing that brings costs down significantly if you commit to a treatment series upfront.
During your free consultation, we’ll assess your scarring and give you an honest estimate of what it will take to see significant improvement.
Multiple Treatment Modalities: We’re not a one-trick pony. We offer laser, microneedling, subcision, TCA CROSS, fillers, and peels. That means we can actually customize treatment for your specific scar types.
Realistic Expectations: We’ll tell you the truth about what’s possible. If your scars are too severe for non-invasive treatments, we’ll say so and refer you appropriately.
Experience with All Scar Types: We’ve treated thousands of acne scars, from mild texture issues to severe ice pick scarring. We know what works and what doesn’t.
All Skin Tones: We safely treat all Fitzpatrick skin types, including darker skin that’s at higher risk for pigmentation issues.
Physician Oversight: All treatments are performed under medical supervision. Acne scar treatment is medical care, not a spa service.
Fort Lauderdale Expertise: We understand the unique challenges of healing in South Florida’s sun and humidity. We’ll guide you through safe recovery.
Whether you’re coming from Victoria Park, Las Olas, Coral Ridge, or anywhere in Broward County, we’ll help you get the smoother skin you want.
This depends on the treatment. Fillers give instant results. Everything else takes time.
With laser and microneedling, you’ll start seeing improvement around 4-6 weeks after your first treatment as new collagen forms. Results continue improving for 3-6 months after each session.
Your scars didn’t form overnight. They won’t disappear overnight either. This is a months-long process. Most people see significant improvement after 3-4 treatments spread over 6-9 months.
Patience is critical. The people who get the best results are the ones who commit to the full treatment plan and don’t give up after one session.
Yes. The age of your scars doesn’t matter as much as you’d think.
Whether your scars are 2 years old or 20 years old, we’re still working with the same tissue. Treatments stimulate new collagen production, which can improve even decades-old scarring.
We’ve successfully treated people with scars from teenage acne who are now in their 40s and 50s. It’s never too late.
It can be, but we need to be more careful. Darker skin has a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially with laser treatments.
We use specific treatments that are safer for darker skin tones. Microneedling with RF works well. Non-ablative lasers are safer than ablative ones. We start with conservative settings and build up gradually.
TCA CROSS and subcision are generally safe for all skin tones when done properly.
The key is working with someone who has experience treating darker skin and knows how to adjust protocols to minimize pigmentation risks.
We’ve successfully treated all skin tones at our Fort Lauderdale location. During consultation, we’ll assess your skin and recommend the safest approach.
Some discomfort is involved, yes. But it’s manageable.
We use numbing cream for all treatments. For more aggressive procedures like subcision or deep laser, we can also inject local anesthetic.
During treatment, you’ll feel pressure, warmth, and maybe some stinging. Most people tolerate it fine with numbing.
Afterward, your skin will feel tender and sore, like a bad sunburn. Over-the-counter pain relievers help.
Honestly? The temporary discomfort is worth it for most people when they see their skin improving significantly.
Because they don’t work for real acne scars. Sorry.
Those drugstore scar creams might help with fresh scars from cuts or minor injuries. But acne scars involve structural changes in your skin. The collagen is damaged. There are depressions and changes in skin architecture.
No topical cream can rebuild that tissue. You need treatments that trigger collagen production deep in the dermis. That requires creating controlled injury through lasers, needles, acids, or surgical techniques.
If over-the-counter products worked, dermatologists wouldn’t exist. They don’t.
No. Once we improve a scar through collagen remodeling, that improvement is permanent.
However, if you continue getting breakouts, you’ll form new scars. That’s why controlling active acne is so important.
Your results are permanent, but your skin will continue aging. Over time, you might notice some texture changes or want maintenance treatments. Many people do touch-up sessions every 1-2 years to maintain optimal results.
Sometimes, yes. But timing matters.
You can often combine treatments with Botox or fillers, just not on the same day if you’re doing aggressive procedures.
Chemical peels and laser resurfacing shouldn’t be done at the same time. Too much injury to the skin.
Microneedling and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) are commonly combined. The PRP enhances healing and results.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss which combinations make sense for your goals and create a timeline that maximizes results while keeping your skin safe.
You’ve lived with those scars long enough. While we can’t promise perfection, we can significantly improve how your skin looks and how you feel about it.
Manhattan Laser Spa offers comprehensive acne scar treatment using multiple proven techniques. We’ll assess your specific scar types, create a customized treatment plan, and guide you through the entire process.
Schedule your free consultation today. We’ll examine your scars, discuss realistic expectations, and show you what’s possible.
Call us or book online. Smoother skin is possible.
