3 Things to Check When Choosing an Acne Scar Treatment Clinic | [Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon]

Depressed scars left after acne has subsided are not just simple marks, but structural changes caused by damage to the underlying skin tissue. In the consultation room, many patients come in after agonizing more over "which hospital to choose to avoid regret" than the scar itself. To put it simply, even for the same scar, the outcome can vary greatly depending on the medical team and treatment plan you encounter.

Especially for those who have long struggled with depressed acne scars, their emotional distress often feels even greater during consultations. In severe cases, they may even complain of feelings of inferiority or difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Therefore, the stronger the desire to eliminate scars, the more important it is to know what to check when choosing a clinic for the first time.

Acne scars usually appear mixed in various depths and forms even on a single person's face. It is rather rare for them to appear cleanly in only one shape. Even if the shape is the same, the depth of the scars varies, so the treatment method must be adjusted accordingly.

Acne scars are broadly divided into three types:

It's true that it can feel off-putting to be recommended more treatments than expected when visiting a clinic. However, acne scars are an area that requires a customized plan tailored to their depth and pattern. Proposing various treatments also indicates the breadth of experience in dealing with diverse scars.

For example, a medical professional who can handle five treatment methods can choose and combine the most suitable method for each scar. On the other hand, if only two are possible, the range of choices will inevitably be narrower as treatment must proceed within those options.

In reality, finding a place with sufficient experience in laser treatments used for depressed acne scars, Subcision to lift indentations, and Suture-Free Punch for deep Icepick scars can be more challenging than expected.

• Does the clinic explain the depth and shape of scars separately?
• Does it propose a combination tailored to the condition, rather than just one device?
• Does it offer different approaches for Icepick, Boxcar, and Rolling types?
• Does it guide a phased plan instead of an unreasonable one-size-fits-all package?

If you are curious about why different plans are needed for each scar, you can check your condition first by inquiring about customized acne scar treatment consultation.

Extensive treatment experience and know-how are important factors that determine the outcome of acne scar treatment. While places with rich experience may seem to have higher treatment costs, it is not uncommon for patients to choose based solely on cost, fail to achieve satisfactory changes, and then seek out clinics specializing in scar treatment again.

This process of switching clinics effectively means spending consultation fees twice. Therefore, we recommend checking whether the clinic has experience dealing with various scar cases from the beginning. This experience can be confirmed to some extent through before-and-after comparison data on the website.

For deep and wide scars, a customized approach may be necessary, such as Surgical Scar Revision or Premium Customized Acne Scar Care that combines multiple methods, rather than laser treatment alone.

We believe that proper acne scar treatment requires an understanding of skin structure. This is because acne scars are not just simple marks, but damage with varying shapes and depths, extending even into the pores.

Dermatology specialists deal with tissue findings, so they approach treatment by assessing changes in the underlying skin tissue as well as the visible surface, and designing treatment according to the cause. There is bound to be a difference between proceeding by relying only on the basic settings of equipment and handling the same equipment with an understanding of skin structure.

When looking for acne scar treatment, we recommend checking first if it is a dermatology specialist clinic that has specialized in skin treatment. However, it is generally not easy to distinguish, and the following methods may help:

• Check signboard notation: There is a difference between a place where "Dermatology" is written as a medical specialty after OOO Clinic and a place labeled OOO Dermatology Clinic.
• Specialist certification mark: Some clinics display a dermatology specialist certification mark.
• Academic society search: You can search for the name of the medical professional you will be treated by on the Korean Dermatological Association's website under "Find a Specialist."

Scars are generally addressed in earnest after acne has sufficiently calmed down. If inflammation remains, inflammation management may come before scar treatment. Also, since there can be individual differences in outcomes even with the same treatment, it is more realistic to approach with a phased plan rather than expecting everything to be resolved with a single procedure.

If you are unsure about what type of scar you have or what sequence of approach would be best, we recommend clarifying the appropriate direction for your condition through an acne scar treatment consultation.

Chief Director Lee Sang-joo (MD, PhD, Yonsei University College of Medicine and Graduate School, completed dermatology residency at Severance Hospital, President of the Korean Dermatological Association) Chief Director Lee Sang-joo's Profile First published 2023-11-27 / Last reviewed 2026-06-16

This article is for general information purposes only, and there may be individual differences in scar shape, depth, and treatment response. Please consult with a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.