Fraxel laser on surgical scars: what to know

Fractional laser treats small columns of scar tissue and surrounding skin, leaving bridges of untreated tissue. It may help a healed, flat or slightly uneven scar look and feel more blended. A raised, thick, itchy, expanding scar may need a different assessment, and an open, infected, or recently separated wound is not ready for cosmetic resurfacing. The surgeon's procedure, scar depth, colour, location, skin tone, and tendency to form raised scars all matter. Laser cannot restore missing tissue, correct an underlying pull, or guarantee that a scar will match nearby skin.

Bring the operation date and details of any wound problems, injections, silicone care, or previous scar treatments. The treating clinician may coordinate with your surgeon and may test a small area. Do not treat over broken skin. Once treated, keep the area clean and moisturised as instructed, protect it from sun, and avoid picking flakes or rubbing clothing across it. Temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, dryness, or pigment change can occur. Let the skin recover before restarting irritating products or applying pressure to the scar.

Contact the clinic if the scar opens, drains, becomes increasingly painful or hot, develops spreading redness, or forms blisters. Seek urgent help for fever with rapidly worsening wound changes. A scar that grows beyond its original boundaries, bleeds, or changes unexpectedly needs clinical assessment rather than another cosmetic session.

Ask whether the scar is fully healed, what scar feature is being targeted, how your skin tone affects pigment risk, whether a test spot is useful, and whether your surgeon should be involved.