Subcision: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Subcision is an intravenous procedure that is recommended for those who have depressed acne scars (these look like pock marks on the face) or scars left by surgery. It is also an interventional method to treat wrinkles, cellulite dimples (which are lumpy, uneven folds that form in the skin due to fat). Depending on the intensity of the scar, subcision may be accompanied by laser treatment. In some cases derma rollers can also be used to render the treatment more fruitful.

Whenever the skin gets damaged, the development of fibrous connective tissues take place, which is a part of the skin’s natural healing process. This process is called fibrosis. In cases of depressed scars, the blemishes are hitched to the subcutaneous tissues by these fibrotic strands. The purpose of this treatment is to remove the fibrotic strands to remove the scarring. Subcision is a simple procedure and it does not take a lot of time for the treatment to attain completion.

A hypodermic needle is used to make an opening in the skin and the needle is then inserted, which breaks the fibrotic strands as well as remove the collagen (the protein that is formed as a result of fibrosis), thereby leading to skin improvement.

Subcision is a very easy method and a patient is usually discharged on the same day the operation is performed. The first step involves the cleansing of the area where the needle is going to be inserted. A light will be placed overhead the patient and the dermatologist would mark the surgical site with a marker. After this, the area where the needle is going to be introduced is locally anesthetized. Usually 18 to 20 gauge needle is used. In some cases, 25-27 gauge needles can also be used. The needle has to be pushed in at a set angle, usually; it is supposed to be an acute angle. Once the needle goes inside the skin, the doctor pushes and pulls it continuously till a snapping sound is heard. The sound indicates that the fibrotic strand has started to budge.

After that, the needle is rotated at a 90 degrees angle and the doctor continues the rotation for a while, till the intervention comes to an end. Haemostasis is a condition where the blood vessels retain the blood. It leads to bruising. To prevent bruising from haemostasis, cold compress with the use of an ice pack is performed on the surgical site.

Whoever wants to remove persistent scar marks from the skin owing to acne, can go for subcision treatment. It is also a good method to treat scars left after a surgery or a trauma.

Albeit the fact that this treatment is very effective, it is not recommended for everybody. For example, people who have a case of hypertrophic or keloid scars will not be cured by this treatment. Keloid scars form when too many scars overlap and form a protruding bump on the skin. It is also not recommended for people who have disorders related to blood clotting or have been exposed to viral infection in recent times.

The skin around the surgical site can swell up due to accumulation of blood, which is very common. The patient will feel pain around the area after the treatment, which can be alleviated by applying cold compress. In rare cases the area can become infected. Skin discoloration is another side-effect of subcision. So patients are usually advised to avoid sun exposure.

A patient might be given pain relievers to help with the agony that he/she is likely to feel after the treatment. He/she can also apply cold compress on the surgical site in case of bruising. The patient shall also avoid exposure to sun rays.

In case of moderate scarring the treatment usually attains completion after 4 to 6 sessions. Between each seesion there will be a gap of one month.

The cost of subcision treatment in India could be anywhere between INR 1500 and INR 5000 per session.

Yes, scars are permanently removed after the treatment. It takes around 3 to 6 sessions for the scars to be removed completely.

If you do not want to go for an invasive treatment in order to remove your acne scars, you can always try out natural remedies like aloe vera, lemon, baking soda solution, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil. Apply one of these on your skin daily to get the best result.