Category: Scar Treatment

Post Laser Scab Care

1/24/2021

Patient: How do I take care of scabs that form after laser treatments and surgery?

Scabs typically form whenever the optimal power is selected for certain lasers and is common and they signify a phase where your skin is raw and just starting to heal up. They scab whenever you want certain results such as

Significant Lightening of Pigmentation
Removal of Moles
Resurfacing Lasers
Removal of Red Vessel Spots

Scabs typically fall off in 3-7 days depending on your skin and treatment protocol. You would want to make sure you get the best scab care such that you reap the optimal results from your laser treatment!

Steps to Advanced Scab Care Post Laser

Step 1: Mechanical Protection
Prevention of further mechanical damage.
Avoidance of hot water, abrasives, microbeads, rough towels, mechanical friction, picking over the scab
This is pertinent to allow your raw skin to heal up well.
Additional trauma can result in unintended damge and may even cause scarring!

Step 2: Moisturisation
Be generous with moisturisation.
Moisturise every hour for the first 48 hours post treatment and scale it down to 5x a day for 5 more days thereafter.
Moisturisation is key to give sufficient moisture for skin to soak up and heal as it is usually dry post treatment.
Use of RAI Post Laser Intensive Recovery Serum before your moisturiser is highly recommended for decreasing inflammation and decreased risk of PIH.

Step 3: UV Protection
Use an umbrella for 1 month post laser treatment whenever going out.
Sun block is typically applied in insufficient quantities by almost everyone! If you are diligent in applying 3 x 50 cent coin worth of sun block over the face every 80 minutes, then you will be getting the intended SPF 50 as stated on the sunblock. Sun block can typically be applied 48 hours post laser treatment.
If you are sitting next to a window, try to shift your daily activities to be away from the window where UV-A easily penetrates. UV-A makes up 95% of UV rays from the sun and gives an insidious insult to our skin, especially when it is healing. UV exposure can lead to PIH which will compromise the intended laser results.

Step 4: Treating Unintended Pigment Formation
Let your doctor know early if this occurs and treatment can be instituted to reverse unintended pigment formation.
Risk of this developing can be decreased with RAI Post Laser Intensive Recovery Serum and with proper care, this can be avoided.

*Dr Sin Yong is a regular user of Time Freeze Resurfacing Laser for scar treatments and papules/ moles removal. He also employs Nd YAG and vascular lasers in his practice to target pigments and vascular lesions respectively. A proper diagnosis of your skin condition by your treating doctor will form the basis for great results. Seek out the ideal laser for your skin condition before commencing any laser treatment! Always enquire if your treating doctor has specialised lasers for your skin condition rather than using a suboptimal laser setting for you skin!

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4D Scar Reconstruction

8/29/2020

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Acne plagues most teenagers and leaves behind unwanted scarring. The quest for the best treatment that one can possibly have to target acne scars, what would it be?

Methods of subcision, resurfacing lasers, chemical peels, microneedling, radiofrequency, ultrasound and many other energy based devices have been described. Use of fillers could also help but require repetitive filling procedures and are not a long term solution.

All these treatments can help and some give more improvement that others. However, most of them have improvement ranges between 1-10%.

Pioneer, 4D Scar Revision

Knowing how the scars are formed, gives the basis for 4D (Definitive Depth Dynamic Detachment) Scar Reconstruction. 4D Scar Reconstruction is great for targeting deep seated scars that are minimally responsive to other treatments.

Even when targeting scars that are recalcitrant to other treatments, it still gives up to 80% scar improvement in a single session.

Are Your Scars Suitable for 4D Scar Reconstruction?

Get your scars assessed to see whether they are suitable for 4D Scar Reconstruction.
*Dr Sin Yong is the pioneer for 4D Scar Reconstruction in Singapore and is currently the only doctor in Singapore capable of delivering this technique.

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Subcision & Scarring

4/7/2020

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Scarring that results from acne can disfigure and cause a lack of self esteem.

The scars that we will look into are those that are of a contour defect, meaning to say no amount of make up can actually cover it up. These are different from darkening or redness that can happen after a pimple has popped!

These scars can be deep and narrow - the ice pick type, or they can also be wide yet shallow, involving a larger area - rolling type. As these scars are treated, gradually when they become more and more shallow and involve a smaller area, they can present like box car type scars.

Let's focus on rolling scars today!

Is there a way for us to treat rolling scars well?
The answer lies in using Subcision!

Subcision, is essentially a technique used to break the deep scars fibres that hold the scar down, thereby allowing the scarred surface to rise up.

This would involve using either a needle or blunt needle to accomplish the breaking of scar fibres.

Immediately post treatment, we can notice how these wide depressed scars are lifted!

To maximise results, subcision works below the skin, an added resurfacing laser can treat the surface of the skin and complement the subcision procedure on the same day. The resurfacing laser of choice is the Time Freeze Laser.

Each scar has an ideal treatment that targets it.
Ice Pick Scars - TCA CROSS
Rolling Scars - Subcision
Boxcar Scars - Time Freeze Laser

It is hence most crucial to consul with your doctor to evaluate the scars to get the ideal treatment!