Many people who treat their acne have severely indented scars that are visible even when covered up. Punch excision is a successful technique for reducing severe scarring. The appearance of wide and deep scars can be lessened by transforming them into linear scars that are easier to conceal. Read on for additional details about punch excision treatment if you wish to evaluate options for acne scars.
What is punch excision for acne scars?
Punch excision treatment is a minimally invasive technique that turns indentation scars into flat linear scars using a round instrument. The initial step is to numb the affected areas with a local anesthetic by a skilled skin care physician. The scar is then entirely removed using a “punch” tool. The open area is then linearly closed with stitches, leaving a flat, linear scar.
A variation on punch excision is punch grafting. A donor skin graft is applied over the excised area and secured in place by stitches after the damaged scar has been removed with the punch tool. The donor skin is commonly taken from behind the ear or the earlobe. This method is only used for acne scars that are very deep or wide and cannot be properly repaired linearly using sutures.
Punch elevation is an additional punch excision modification only used on broader scars. Here, the scar is raised at its base, but the original scar’s borders are preserved using a punch instrument smaller than the scar. The scar’s base is then kept raised using sutures.
Punch excision: How is it done?
A lidocaine injection is given on the treatment area before punching the excision to reduce pain. The doctor will then physically remove the scar by puncturing the top layer of skin with a small, circular “punch” tool. Punch tools are available in a variety of diameters, from 1 to 12 millimeters, to best complement the scar’s breadth. Finally, the remaining skin is sewn together to cover the hole the punch instrument left behind.
Punch excision leaves flat scars that are more likely to dissolve with time and are simpler to conceal with makeup, especially after skin resurfacing.
What kind of scars can be treated with punch excision?
Punch excision is a procedure commonly used for acute acne scars, particularly those that leave indentations in the skin. Ice pick scars, boxcar scars, and rolling scars that are at least 1-millimeter wide fall under this category.
Deep, angular scars known as “ice pick scars” mimic the impression left by an ice pick on wood. They appear triangular in a sideways cross-section, with the scar’s edges facing inward and producing a tip.
Boxcar scars resemble broad craters with well-defined edges perpendicular to the scar base and parallel to each other. These scars might have an oval, polygonal, or circular shape.
Rolling scars are pits with sloping edges. The edges curl into the base of the scar when viewed in a sideways cross-section. The skin in the vicinity could also look wavy or uneven. This sort of scar’s sloping margins and the low quality of the surrounding skin make punch excision less successful.
Punch excision is not advised for elevated scars that are thought to be hypertrophic or keloidal, even if it is helpful for the ice pick, boxcar, and even certain rolling scars.
Consult Dr. Shehla Ebrahim for expert care
If you want a solution for your acne scars, we invite you to consult with Dr. Shehla Ebrahim today. She is a board-certified skin care physician with more than 17 years of experience treating patients using the most innovative anti-aging treatments combined with her holistic approach to skincare. Her success has made thousands of women feel more comfortable in their skin. Book your online appointment today!