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Acne Scar Treatment Singapore · Scar-type assessment · Subcision · DEKA CO2 · IN Eternity Clinic

Acne Scar Treatment Singapore

Ice-pick, boxcar and rolling scars are shaped differently, sit at different depths and need different tools — and flat red or brown marks are not scars at all. At IN Eternity Clinic, Dr Sin Yong first works out which scar types you have, then builds a plan from subcision, TCA CROSS, RF microneedling, fractional CO2 and collagen stimulation.

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Assessed and treated by Dr Sin Yong, Medical Director · MBBS (NUS) · MRCS (Edinburgh) · MSc Aesthetic Medicine (London) · MSc Practical Dermatology (Cardiff) · Designated DEKA Centre of Excellence

In short: acne scar treatment at IN Eternity Clinic Singapore begins by identifying the scar type, because icepick, boxcar and rolling scars have different architecture and respond to different things. Subcision releases the fibrous bands tethering rolling scars from below. Fractional CO2 laser in Singapore resurfaces the surface — IN Eternity Clinic is a designated DEKA Centre of Excellence, and the DEKA SmartXide fractional CO2 platform is used here for pitted scar treatment. Other energy devices, including Fotona platforms often searched as Fotona acne scar treatment, address different depths. Anyone searching permanent acne scar removal or laser pimple scar removal should know that scars are remodelled rather than erased: the realistic aim is a flatter, less conspicuous scar, not absent skin damage.

Key facts
  • Who assesses: Medical Director Dr Sin Yong, at 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore.
  • Scar types identified first: ice-pick, boxcar, rolling, raised, and flat post-acne marks (which are not true scars).
  • Tools used: subcision, TCA CROSS, RF microneedling, DEKA fractional CO2 and injectable collagen stimulation.
  • Course: planned as a series; collagen remodelling takes weeks, and active acne is settled first.
  • What is not promised: complete removal — scar tissue is remodelled, not erased.
  • Asian skin: settings are chosen with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk in mind.
Reviewed by Dr Sin Yong, Medical Director, IN Eternity Clinic · Last updated
Featured Treatments

Which tool for which scar

One device cannot reach every scar type. The options below are combined according to what the assessment finds.

4D Scar Reconstruction
Multi-Layer Protocol

4D Scar Reconstruction

IN Eternity Clinic's layered protocol for mixed scarring: surface resurfacing, release of tethered scars and collagen stimulation planned together and sequenced over a course.

S3 Resurfacing Laser
Resurfacing Laser

S3 Resurfacing Laser

Fractional CO2 resurfacing on the DEKA platform, used for the edges of shallow boxcar scars and for overall surface texture. See the Tetra PRO SCAR3 protocol.

Subcision
Tethered-Scar Release

Subcision

A fine instrument passed under a rolling scar to cut the fibrous strands holding it down, so the skin can rise back towards the surrounding level.

TCA Paint (CROSS)
Focal Peel

TCA Paint (CROSS)

High-strength TCA placed only inside a narrow ice-pick scar, so the scar walls remodel and the base gradually comes up.

RF Microneedling
Collagen Remodelling

RF Microneedling

Insulated needles deliver radiofrequency heat at a set depth to remodel scar tissue under the surface, used for rolling and boxcar scars where surface injury should be limited.

Radiesse Collagen Stimulation
Biostimulation

Radiesse Collagen Stimulation

An injectable biostimulator placed under atrophic scars that have lost volume, so the skin has more support from below as new collagen forms.

Understanding the Problem

Why scar type decides the plan

A scar forms when inflamed acne destroys collagen and the skin repairs the gap imperfectly. How the repair went decides the shape. Depressed (atrophic) scars are the ones most people mean, and they come in three forms: ice-pick (narrow and deep), boxcar (wider, with steep edges) and rolling (broad dips pulled down by fibrous strands). Flat brown or red marks are leftover pigment or redness, not true scars, and raised hypertrophic or keloid scars are another group again.

That is why a single treatment rarely answers acne scarring. CO2 resurfacing can soften a boxcar edge but barely touches the base of an ice-pick scar; subcision frees a rolling scar but has no effect on pigment. Dr Sin Yong maps your scar types before choosing tools, so each part of the plan has a reason.

Most people we assess have two or three scar types side by side, often with post-acne marks and enlarged pores as well. The plan deals with each one separately.

How Treatment Works

Matching Method to Scar Type

Subcision is used where scars are tethered. RF microneedling is used to remodel boxcar and rolling scars below the surface. Fractional CO2 on the DEKA platform at IN Eternity Clinic — a DEKA Centre of Excellence — is used to soften scar edges and improve surface texture.

Ice-pick scars are treated with TCA CROSS, placed inside each scar. Where scars have lost volume underneath, an injectable biostimulator adds support from below. Steps are often sequenced — subcision first, resurfacing later — because mixed scarring has more than one cause.

Plans run as a course. Collagen rebuilds slowly over weeks, so change is assessed across sessions, not after one visit. Post-acne pigment is handled with pigment lasers, separately from scar resurfacing.

What to Expect

Realistic Results & Downtime

Scar tissue is remodelled, not deleted, and that is stated plainly at consultation. The aim of a course is a smoother, more even surface. Recovery depends on the tool: CO2 resurfacing and some microneedling bring a few days of redness and flaking, while subcision and injectables affect the surface less.

Sequence matters. Active acne is settled first, so new scars are not forming while old ones are treated. Dr Sin Yong sets the order of steps and gives an estimate of sessions once your scars have been mapped.

Other Scars

Other scars we assess: stretch marks, surgical and injury scars

The same remodelling principles apply to other scars. Stretch marks are dermal scars that form when skin stretches faster than it can adapt — in pregnancy, growth spurts or weight change — so fractional laser, microneedling and, in places, subcision are used to work on their texture. Surgical and injury scars are planned the same way, according to depth and texture.

Cellulite is often raised in the same visit. It is not a scar: the dimpling comes from fibrous septae and fat under the skin, not from a healed wound. Radiofrequency-based body treatments can be discussed for it at the same consultation.

Understand Your Scars

Acne scar types, one by one

Each scar type has a typical shape and a usual first-line tool. Select a type to see what it looks like and how it is approached at IN Eternity Clinic.

Skin cross-section
Ice-Pick
Ice-Pick Scars
Narrow, deep scars that narrow to a point, like a pinprick going down into the skin. Surface lasers alone reach them poorly, so TCA CROSS inside the scar is the usual starting point, sometimes followed by resurfacing.
Select a scar type above

At IN Eternity Clinic, acne scar treatment starts with naming each scar type present — ice-pick, boxcar, rolling, or flat post-acne marks — and choosing the tool that reaches it: TCA CROSS, subcision, RF microneedling, DEKA fractional CO2 or collagen stimulation. Because scar types are usually mixed, the plan combines several of these over a course instead of relying on one laser.

“Tethering is the distinction that changes the plan. A rolling scar is held down by a fibrous band — resurfacing the surface above it does very little. Release and resurfacing are not substitutes for one another.”
Dr Sin Yong · Medical Director, IN Eternity Clinic

CO2 laser Singapore, and what sets the cost

Two questions come up in almost every acne scar consultation: which resurfacing platform is used, and what the course will cost.

CO2 laser Singapore

Fractional CO2 remains one of the established resurfacing options for atrophic acne scarring. IN Eternity Clinic is a designated DEKA Centre of Excellence and uses the DEKA fractional CO2 platform. CO2 laser Singapore searches often assume a single setting; in practice depth and density are adjusted per scar type and per Fitzpatrick phototype.

Acne scar treatment cost Singapore

Acne scar treatment cost Singapore depends on scar type, how many areas are involved, which modalities are combined and how many sessions the plan needs. Mixed scarring almost always requires a staged plan rather than one session, so a single figure quoted before assessment is not meaningful. The full plan and its cost are set out at consultation before anything is booked.

Scar type by tool

Boxcar, ice-pick or rolling: which tool for which scar?

Two quick checks at home give a first idea. In side lighting, ice-pick scars look like deep pinholes under about 2 mm wide; boxcar scars are round or oval dips with steep edges, roughly 1.5 to 4 mm across; rolling scars are wider, soft-edged waves. Gently stretch the skin between two fingers: rolling scars flatten noticeably, while ice-pick and boxcar scars stay visible. The assessment confirms this and measures depth.

Scar typeFirst toolOften addedWhy
Ice-pickTCA CROSSFractional CO2 laterToo narrow and deep for surface lasers to reach the base
Shallow boxcarFractional CO2 (S3) or RF microneedlingCollagen stimulationSoftening the steep edge flattens the shadow
Deep boxcarSubcision if tethered, then CO2TCA CROSS to the wallsDepth and tethering both need addressing
RollingSubcisionRF microneedling, biostimulatorFibrous bands hold the skin down from below

At IN Eternity Clinic, fractional CO2 is delivered on the DEKA SmartXide Tetra PRO (the S3 protocol) and RF microneedling on the CLASSYS Secret Duo (see RF microneedling). Subcision has its own page. For a side-by-side view, read CO2 vs RF microneedling vs pico for acne scars.

Comfort and recovery

Does acne scar treatment hurt? Comfort and recovery by tool

Comfort and downtime differ by step, so a plan usually mixes heavier and lighter sessions:

ToolNumbingHow it feelsVisible recovery
TCA CROSSUsually none neededBrief sting in each scarSmall white then dark dots, about a week
SubcisionLocal anaestheticPressure and pullingBruising and swelling, one to two weeks
RF microneedlingNumbing creamPrickling heatRedness and pinpoint marks, two to four days
Fractional CO2Numbing cream, coolingHot pricklingRedness, bronzing and flaking, five to seven days

Steps are usually spaced four to eight weeks apart, and heat-based steps are not stacked on the same day in darker skin types, to keep the risk of post-inflammatory darkening down. For how a staged course is costed, see the acne scar treatment cost guide.

Questions

More questions answered

How can I tell whether I have rolling or boxcar scars?

Look in side lighting and gently stretch the skin. Rolling scars are wide, soft-edged waves that flatten when stretched, because fibrous bands are pulling them down. Boxcar scars have sharp, steep walls and stay visible when stretched. Most faces have both, which is why the assessment maps each area before tools are chosen.

Can ice-pick scars be treated with laser alone?

Usually not well. Ice-pick scars are narrow and deep, so surface lasers soften the opening but rarely reach the base. TCA CROSS, placed inside each scar, is the usual first step, with fractional CO2 later to blend the surface. Results build over several sessions.

CO2 or RF microneedling for boxcar scars?

Both can help. Fractional CO2 resurfaces the top layers and softens sharp edges, with more downtime; RF microneedling heats deeper with less surface injury and a lower risk of darkening in Asian skin. Shallow boxcar scars may respond to either, deeper ones often need both alongside subcision. Dr Sin Yong chooses after measuring scar depth and skin type.

How long after subcision can I have laser?

Usually four to six weeks, once bruising has settled and the released scars have had time to fill with new tissue. Resurfacing too early adds inflammation to an area that is still healing. The exact gap is set at the review after subcision.

See also
SubcisionRF microneedlingCO2 vs RF microneedling vs picoAcne scar treatment costAcne scars explained

References

  1. Jacob CI, Dover JS, Kaminer MS. Acne scarring: a classification system and review of treatment options. J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45(1):109-17. doi:10.1067/mjd.2001.113451
  2. Ahramiyanpour N, Rastaghi F, Parvar SY, et al. Subcision in acne scarring: A review of clinical trials. J Cosmet Dermatol 2023;22(3):744-751. doi:10.1111/jocd.15480
  3. Manuskiatti W, Iamphonrat T, Wanitphakdeedecha R, Eimpunth S. Comparison of fractional erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet and carbon dioxide lasers in resurfacing of atrophic acne scars in Asians. Dermatol Surg 2013;39(1 Pt 1):111-20. doi:10.1111/dsu.12030
  4. Davis EC, Callender VD. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation: a review of the epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment options in skin of color. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2010;3(7):20-31. PMID 20725554
  5. Singapore Medical Council. Guidelines on Aesthetic Practices for Doctors (2016 edition). healthprofessionals.gov.sg/smc
  6. Fabbrocini G, Annunziata MC, D'Arco V, et al. Acne Scars: Pathogenesis, Classification and Treatment. Dermatol Res Pract 2010;2010:893080. doi:10.1155/2010/893080
  7. Kravvas G, Al-Niaimi F. A systematic review of treatments for acne scarring. Part 1: Non-energy-based techniques. Scars Burn Heal 2017;3:2059513117695312. doi:10.1177/2059513117695312
  8. Kravvas G, Al-Niaimi F. A systematic review of treatments for acne scarring. Part 2: Energy-based techniques. Scars Burn Heal 2018;4:2059513118793420. doi:10.1177/2059513118793420

These sources describe mechanisms and general evidence. They are not a promise of any individual result; suitability is decided at an in-person assessment.

Acne scar treatment: common questions

How are deep or ice-pick acne scars approached?+

Depth decides the approach. Narrow ice-pick scars are usually started with TCA CROSS placed inside each scar. Deeper boxcar scars and textural scarring are commonly resurfaced with the S3 fractional CO2 laser on IN Eternity Clinic's DEKA platform, often after subcision where scars are tethered, and sometimes with collagen stimulation where volume is lost. Dr Sin Yong sequences these within the clinic's layered scar protocol. Which steps you need is decided at assessment; see the Tetra PRO SCAR3 protocol page for the laser detail.

What about raised (keloid or hypertrophic) acne scars?+

Raised scars sit above the skin and are handled differently from depressed ones — usually with injections into the scar and selected energy devices, not resurfacing. Treating a raised scar like a pitted one can make it worse, so Dr Sin Yong separates the two at assessment.

Is acne scar treatment suitable for Asian skin?+

Yes, with adjustments. Asian skin is more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so settings are chosen conservatively and techniques with less surface injury, such as subcision and RF microneedling, are often used. Dr Sin Yong holds an MSc in Practical Dermatology (Cardiff). Sun protection between sessions is part of every plan.

Can teenagers have acne scar treatment?+

Sometimes, once the acne itself is under control (acne treatment comes first). Younger patients are assessed individually, and a parent or guardian joins the consultation.

How is the skin looked after once a course ends?+

Scar remodelling is structural, but the skin around it keeps ageing and reacting. Daily sun protection, a routine that suits your skin and keeping acne controlled all matter. Dr Sin Yong reviews this at follow-up.

Who carries out acne scar treatment at IN Eternity Clinic?+

Medical Director Dr Sin Yong assesses and plans every scar case personally at 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza. He holds an MSc in Practical Dermatology (University of Cardiff) and an MSc in Aesthetic Medicine, and matches each scar type to subcision, TCA CROSS, RF microneedling or fractional CO2 rather than using one device for everything.

Are stretch marks treated too?+

Yes. Stretch marks are dermal scars, so fractional laser, microneedling and sometimes subcision are used on their texture over a course. Newer pink or red marks usually respond differently from older white ones, which is explained at assessment.

Do you see surgical or injury scars as well?+

Yes. Surgical scars, injury scars and post-inflammatory marks are assessed on the same principles — depth, texture and colour decide the tool. Cellulite, which is not a scar, can be discussed in the same visit.

How is the right acne scar treatment chosen?+

By scar type. Ice-pick, boxcar and rolling scars and flat marks each have a different first-line tool, so Dr Sin Yong identifies which you have before combining treatments.

Can acne scars be removed completely?+

No — scar tissue is remodelled, not erased, and an honest consultation says so. The aim is a smoother, more even surface; how far a scar changes depends on its depth, its type and how your skin heals.

How many sessions does a course take?+

Usually several, because collagen rebuilds slowly. The number depends on scar depth and the tools chosen, and is written into your plan after assessment.

Is there downtime with acne scar treatment?+

That depends on the tool. CO2 resurfacing and some microneedling bring several days of redness and flaking; subcision may leave temporary bruising; injectables affect the surface less. Your plan lists what to expect for each step.

Does active acne need to settle first?+

In most cases, yes, so that new scars are not forming during treatment. Dr Sin Yong advises on timing at the consultation.

Are scar treatments combined?+

Often, because mixed scarring has more than one cause — for example, subcision for tethered rolling scars and later resurfacing for surface texture. The combination follows your scar map.

What does acne scar treatment cost?+

Cost follows the scar types present, their depth, the area and how many sessions and tools the plan needs. Plans are built around your scars, not sold as packages, so Dr Sin Yong gives a written quote after assessment.

How are pitted acne scars treated?+

By identifying which pitted type they are. Ice-pick scars usually start with TCA CROSS, boxcar scars with resurfacing or RF microneedling, and rolling scars with subcision. Most people have a mix, so the plan combines these.

RF microneedling or fractional CO2 — which is used?+

They do different jobs. RF microneedling remodels scar tissue below the surface with less surface injury; fractional CO2 resurfaces the top layers and softens edges. Dr Sin Yong may use one, the other or both, depending on your scars and skin type.

What about red or brown marks after acne?+

Flat marks are post-inflammatory pigment or redness, not scars, so they are treated with pigment or vascular lasers rather than resurfacing — often in parallel with a scar plan.

Most patients describe a warm or light prickling sensation during acne scar treatment, managed with cooling and adjustable settings. Numbing can be applied where helpful. The sensation passes quickly, and what to expect is explained beforehand at IN Eternity Clinic.

Results from acne scar treatment build in the weeks after each session as the skin renews, and are commonly maintained with periodic treatment. The interval depends on your skin and concern, and is planned individually.

Acne scars are not one problem — ice-pick, boxcar, rolling and hypertrophic scars each respond to different tools, from resurfacing laser to subcision, TCA CROSS and collagen stimulation. Effective treatment usually combines several, matched to the scar types present. At IN Eternity Clinic the scars are assessed first, since the mix decides the plan.

Acne scar treatment at IN Eternity Clinic begins by identifying the scar types — atrophic (ice-pick, boxcar, rolling), hypertrophic or pigmented — because each responds to a different approach. Depth-reaching laser resurfacing, subcision, TCA CROSS and collagen stimulation are combined as needed. What is realistic depends on the scarring and is discussed honestly at assessment.

Treating active acne early and not picking are the two habits that matter most, since both inflammation and picking drive scarring and post-acne marks. Where scars have started to form, assessing them sooner leaves more options open. A visit to IN Eternity Clinic covers both the active acne and any scarring already present.

Scar treatment pricing depends on the scar types present, the area, and how many sessions and modalities the plan involves, which differ considerably between patients. Because the plan is tailored, IN Eternity Clinic sets out the full plan and cost at consultation rather than a fixed price.

Not in the literal sense, and it is worth saying so plainly. Scar tissue is remodelled, not removed — the collagen laid down during healing never returns to the fibre orientation of uninjured skin. What is realistically achievable is a scar that is flatter, smoother, closer in colour to surrounding skin and far less conspicuous. Claims of permanent acne scar removal overstate what the tissue allows, and results vary between individuals.
Subcision releases the fibrous bands that tether a rolling scar to the tissue beneath it. A fine instrument is passed under the scar to divide those bands so the depressed surface can lift. It is used where tethering is the dominant feature, because resurfacing the surface above a tethered scar addresses texture without addressing what is holding it down. It is frequently combined with resurfacing in a staged plan rather than used alone.
Yes. Fractional CO2 laser is one of the established resurfacing options for atrophic acne scarring, creating controlled columns of thermal injury that trigger collagen remodelling as the skin repairs. IN Eternity Clinic is a designated DEKA Centre of Excellence and uses the DEKA fractional CO2 platform. CO2 laser in Singapore carries genuine downtime and requires careful settings in darker Fitzpatrick skin types, which is why the assessment covers phototype before anything is booked.
Pitted scar treatment addresses atrophic scars — the depressed, indented scars left after inflammatory acne. Icepick scars are narrow and deep, boxcar scars are wider with sharply defined walls, and rolling scars are shallow undulations tethered from below. Pitted scar treatment is therefore not one procedure; a mixed face usually needs a combination sequenced over several months.
Fotona platforms use erbium and Nd:YAG wavelengths, which interact with tissue differently from CO2. Broadly, erbium resurfacing is more superficial with less thermal spread and shorter recovery, while fractional CO2 reaches deeper with more collagen stimulation and more downtime. Neither is universally better — the choice follows scar depth, skin type and how much recovery time you can accommodate.
Acne scar treatment cost in Singapore varies with scar type, the number of areas, which modalities are combined and how many sessions the plan requires — which is why a figure quoted before assessment is not meaningful. Mixed scarring generally needs a staged plan rather than a single session. The plan and its cost are set out in full at consultation before anything is booked.
Those are usually not scars at all. Flat red or brown marks left after a spot are post-inflammatory erythema or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — colour changes in skin whose texture is intact. They often settle on their own over months and respond to different treatment from true atrophic scarring. Treating pigment as if it were a scar, or scarring as if it were pigment, is a common reason people spend money without improvement.

Start with a scar assessment

Book an acne scar assessment with Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza — a short walk from Orchard MRT.

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