REPIC Clinic Gangnam — Dermatology Clinic
Acne scars and other scars
Scars are a shape problem first and a color problem second. A dented boxcar scar, a narrow icepick, a raised keloid and a red mark each need a different tool.
Three shapes of acne scar
Acne scars differ in cross-section. Most faces have more than one type, so we combine treatments area by area.
What usually causes it
- 01
Boxcar and rolling scars (dented, tethered)
Wide dents with sharp or sloping edges. A fibrous band under the scar pulls the surface down, so filling from the top alone does not hold.
How we tell them apart
- The dent softens or disappears when you stretch the skin
- Wider than it is deep, with a flat or sloped floor
- Worst on the cheeks and temples
What we'd suggest, by cause
REPIC Scar Treatment
Subcision cuts the band, Curejet fills, CO2 shouldering smooths the edge. Done as one package.
Potenza
Needle RF to rebuild the floor of the scar.
Re2O
Stem Cell Therapy
Added to support healing after resurfacing.
- 02
Icepick scars (narrow, deep)
Pinpoint holes that go deep. They are the hardest type to treat, and our usual combination is the practical answer rather than the textbook one.
How we tell them apart
- Small openings you can hardly see the bottom of
- Do not flatten when the skin is stretched
- Often on the nose and central cheeks
What we'd suggest, by cause
CO2 laser (REPIC Scar Treatment)
This works directly on the scar wall. The doctor sets the scope based on depth and number of scars.
- 03
Stretch marks
Torn dermis from fast stretching. Red ones are newer and respond more; white ones are older and set.
How we tell them apart
- Parallel lines on thighs, hips, belly, arms or breasts
- Red or purple means recent; silver-white means old
- Slightly sunken to the touch
What we'd suggest, by cause
Curejet + Juvelook Volume + fractional laser
Curejet and the fractional laser are part of a combined session. Juvelook Volume rebuilds density in the torn skin.
- 04
Keloids and raised scars
Scar tissue that grows beyond the original wound and keeps growing. Common on the chest, shoulders, jaw and earlobes.
How we tell them apart
- Raised, firm, sometimes itchy or tender
- Bigger than the injury that caused it
- Family members have them too
What we'd suggest, by cause
Keloid treatment
Keloid injection is the mainstay.
- 05
Red marks and white marks
Red marks are vessels still active in healing tissue. White, flat marks have already scarred down: there is less to gain, but they rarely come back.
How we tell them apart
- Red or pink flat marks where spots used to be
- Redness fades when you press on it
- White flat patches that have not changed in a long time
What we'd suggest, by cause
Gold Toning
Toning that targets the redness (dilated vessels) left around the scar.
Resurfacing (case by case)
White, settled scars can still improve a little. Gains are modest, recurrence is rare.
Treatment, sessions, spacing and downtime by type
These are general figures. The actual number of sessions and spacing are set at your visit, around your scars and your dates in Korea.
| Treatment | Best for | Sessions | Spacing | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REPIC Scar Care (subcision + CureJet + Juvelook Volume) | Boxcar, rolling | Programmes of 1, 3 or 5 sessions | Explained at your consultation | Explained at your consultation |
| CO2 laser | Ice pick, scar edges | Explained at your consultation | Explained at your consultation | Explained at your consultation |
| Potenza | Boxcar, rolling (supporting) | Explained at your consultation | Explained at your consultation | Redness and swelling 1–3 days, full recovery 5–7 days (makeup after 24–48 hours) |
| Juvelook Volume | Boxcar, rolling (density under the dip) | Usually 3 | 2–4 weeks | 1–3 days (small bumps, redness, light bruising) |
Results and recovery vary from person to person.
Diagnosis comes first
What we look for first is the scar type and how the skin around it moves. Rolling scars flatten when you stretch the skin; icepicks do not. Color tells us the age of the scar. That decides whether we cut the tether underneath, resurface the top, or just treat the color.
At the Gangnam clinic a doctor examines your skin in person first. Then a Mark-Vu/Meta-Vu scan and the RSTI report put numbers on what they saw. The plan is built from both, not from the name of the treatment you came in asking for.
See also
Good to know
- Younger skin tends to respond better. Past the late 20s the response is usually less, though still worthwhile.
- Active acne gets controlled first. Treating scars on skin that is still breaking out is a waste of money.
- Scar work is a series, not a single visit. Ask how many sessions before you book flights.
- Subcision and CO2 have real downtime: redness, swelling and crusting. Leave a buffer before you fly.
Common questions
Can acne scars be removed completely?
No. They can be made a lot less visible, and the stretch test at the consult gives a realistic sense of how much. No one can promise a complete result, and we will not.
How much downtime does scar treatment have?
Subcision and CO2 leave you red, swollen and crusted for a while, so do not plan to fly home the next morning. Potenza and Re2O are lighter. We schedule by your travel dates.
Is it worth treating old scars from years ago?
Usually yes for dented scars, since the tether underneath can still be cut. White, flat scars gain less. The consult will tell you which you have.
Other concerns
Results vary from person to person. A doctor decides on treatment after examining you, and nothing on this page is a promise of outcome.