How effective is fractional laser treatment for a hypertrophic scar?

A hypertrophic scar is raised but generally remains within the boundary of the original injury. Fractional laser makes small columns of controlled injury in the scar and nearby skin. Healing can encourage collagen remodelling and may make a firm scar more pliable or less uneven. The response depends on scar age, thickness, activity, location, and the skin's tendency to change colour after inflammation. A raised scar that is still growing may need a different or combined approach before laser is considered.

Have the scar examined before booking treatment, particularly if it is painful, itchy, enlarging, or restricting movement. Your clinician may combine scar care with other treatment and select conservative settings. During recovery, keep the area clean, use the recommended ointment or moisturiser, avoid scratching, and protect it from sunlight. Do not apply unapproved active products to freshly treated skin. Mention previous reactions, darker marks after injuries, and medicines that affect healing.

Get in touch with the clinic if pain, warmth, redness, swelling, oozing, blistering, or crusting is worsening rather than settling. Arrange review if the scar becomes rapidly larger, begins extending beyond the original wound, or limits movement. A colour change that persists or concerns you also deserves assessment, especially for skin that marks easily after inflammation.

Ask whether the scar is stable, what improvement is realistic, whether another scar treatment should come first, how recovery will be managed, and how your risk of post-treatment colour change will be reduced.