Subcision

Subcision is a minor scar-release procedure that uses a needle to separate fibrous bands tethering depressed skin.

Subcision is a clinician-performed procedure for selected depressed scars or dimpling. After the skin is cleaned and numbed, a blunt or sharp instrument is guided beneath the surface to release fibrous bands that pull the skin downward. The released space may allow the skin to lift and may be supported with another treatment when appropriate. It is most relevant to rolling or tethered depressions, not every type of scar.

A consultation distinguishes Acne Scars, Atrophic Scars, or cellulite-like dimpling from active inflammation, raised scars, pigmentation, or another skin condition.

Expect tenderness, swelling, bruising, and small puncture marks after treatment. The area is kept clean as instructed, and strenuous activity, pressure, or products that irritate the skin may need to be limited for a short period. Bruising can remain visible while it settles. Your clinician gives wound-care instructions based on the treated site and whether another treatment was combined with subcision.

The clinician should discuss risks in the context of your skin and treatment plan rather than promise a fixed frequency. Possible problems include prolonged bruising or swelling, bleeding, infection, temporary numbness, uneven texture, persistent tenderness, pigmentation change, or a scar that does not improve. Rarely, a firm lump or excessive scar tissue can develop. Contact the clinic for worsening pain, spreading redness, pus, fever, or sudden swelling.

Subcision can soften the pull beneath a suitable depressed scar, but it may not erase the scar or correct colour change and surface texture by itself. Results depend on scar type, depth, skin healing, and whether further sessions or combination treatment are advised. Release of a tether can be lasting, yet new acne, weight change, or ongoing skin disease may create new unevenness.

The target is the band beneath a depression, not simply the visible surface. Good planning matters: the clinician maps the scar, checks active acne or infection, reviews bleeding risks, and explains whether combination treatment could improve texture or volume.

Subcision may suit people with rolling, depressed, or tethered scars that remain visible when the skin is relaxed. It may also be discussed for selected dimpling associated with cellulite. Active infection, uncontrolled inflammation, a tendency to form problematic scars, bleeding disorders, or medicines that increase bleeding may change the plan. The consultation should include your previous scar treatments and healing history.

The clinician photographs or marks the target area, cleans the skin, and administers local anaesthetic. A needle or cannula is passed under the scar, then moved in a controlled layer to release tethering. Pressure is applied afterward to limit bleeding, and the site is covered if needed. The clinician explains aftercare, pain relief, and the signs that require contact.

The first phase is usually marked by swelling, bruising, and tenderness rather than an immediate final result. As the area settles, the clinician checks healing and compares the scar with its baseline. Do not massage, pick, or apply unapproved products to puncture sites. Delay elective treatment if you develop infection or significant irritation, and report symptoms that intensify instead of improving.

Before treatment, disclose blood-thinning medicines, supplements, allergies, active acne, cold sores, immune conditions, and any history of raised or thick scars. Bleeding, infection, altered sensation, prolonged inflammation, pigmentation change, and an uneven result are possible. Urgent assessment is needed for breathing difficulty, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, fever, or redness spreading away from the treated area.

Depending on the scar, alternatives include microneedling, chemical reconstruction techniques, fillers, fractional resurfacing, or acne scar laser treatment. Raised scars need a different approach, and active acne should be controlled to reduce new scarring. A clinician may recommend combining methods because releasing tethering does not necessarily correct pigment, pores, or shallow surface irregularity.

Choose a licensed dermatologist or plastic surgeon experienced in scar assessment and subcision. Ask to see how the clinician evaluates tethering, what aftercare is included, whether combination treatment is appropriate, and how complications are managed. A careful consultation is especially useful when the scar type is uncertain or you have healed poorly from previous procedures.