Acne Scar Treatment
Acne Scar Treatment in Agoura Hills
Your acne may be gone, but the scars it left behind can continue to affect the way your skin looks and feels.
Indented scars, uneven texture, enlarged pores and lingering discoloration often require more than skincare alone.
But not all acne scars are the same—and they should not all be treated the same way.
At AIVI Aesthetics in Agoura Hills, we take a personalized, skin-first approach to acne scar treatment. We evaluate the type and depth of your scarring, your skin tone, active acne, pigmentation, previous treatments, tolerance for downtime and overall goals before recommending a treatment plan.
Depending on your skin, treatment options may include CO2 laser resurfacing and CoolPeel®, Vivace RF microneedling, traditional microneedling, regenerative treatments, chemical peels or a combination approach.
The goal is not perfect, poreless skin.
The goal is to help scars look softer, improve overall texture and support healthier, smoother-looking skin.
What Are Acne Scars?
Acne scars develop when inflammation from acne disrupts the skin’s normal healing process and damages collagen.
Some scars form because tissue has been lost, creating an indentation.
Others develop because the body produces excess tissue during healing.
Acne can also leave behind red or brown marks that look like scars but are actually post-inflammatory discoloration.
Understanding the difference is important because each concern may require a different treatment.
What Types of Acne Scars Do You Have?
Before deciding whether you need CO2 laser, RF microneedling or another treatment, we first look at the type of scarring present.
Many patients have more than one type of acne scar.
Rolling Acne Scars
Rolling scars create shallow depressions and an uneven or wavy appearance across the skin.
They can become more noticeable under certain lighting because the irregular surface creates shadows.
Depending on their depth and structure, collagen-remodeling treatments may help soften their appearance.
Boxcar Acne Scars
Boxcar scars are depressed scars with more defined edges.
They may be shallow or deeper and commonly appear on the cheeks and temples.
Treatment depends heavily on their depth.
A superficial boxcar scar may respond differently than a deep, sharply defined scar.
Ice Pick Acne Scars
Ice pick scars are narrow, deeper scars that extend into the skin.
Because of their depth and shape, they can be more challenging to improve with superficial treatments alone.
A personalized evaluation is particularly important because not every acne-scar procedure works equally well for ice pick scars.
Hypertrophic and Raised Acne Scars
Not every acne scar is indented.
Some patients develop raised or thickened scars because excess tissue forms during the healing process.
These scars require a different treatment approach from depressed acne scars.
Benefits of CO2 Laser Resurfacing & CoolPeel®
One of the most common misconceptions is that every mark left after acne is a scar.
It isn’t.
Acne scars
Acne scars involve a change in the structure or texture of the skin.
You may notice indentations, depressions or raised areas.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, causes brown or darker discoloration after acne inflammation.
Post-inflammatory erythema
Some acne leaves behind persistent red or pink marks rather than an actual indentation.
You can also have acne scars and discoloration at the same time.
This matters because treating pigmentation is different from remodeling a structural acne scar.
CO2 Laser vs. RF Microneedling for Acne Scars
This is one of the most common questions we hear.
Neither treatment is automatically better.
They work differently.
| Treatment | May Be Best For | Downtime | Primary Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 Laser Resurfacing | More significant texture and selected depressed scars | Moderate to more significant depending on intensity | Resurfacing + remodeling |
| CoolPeel® | Mild texture, pores and superficial skin renewal | Generally less than deeper CO2 | Superficial resurfacing |
| RF Microneedling | Acne scars, pores, texture and collagen remodeling | Usually mild to moderate | Collagen stimulation |
| Microneedling | Mild scarring and texture | Usually mild | Gradual collagen remodeling |
For some patients, the answer is not:
CO2 OR RF microneedling.
It may be:
CO2 + RF microneedling strategically performed at different stages of a treatment plan.
How Many Acne Scar Treatments Will I Need?
Acne scar improvement is usually a process.
The number of treatments depends on:
- Type of scar
- Depth of scar
- Severity of scarring
- Treatment selected
- Skin response
- Treatment intensity
- Amount of downtime you are comfortable with
Traditional microneedling and RF microneedling are often performed as a series.
A more intensive resurfacing treatment may require fewer sessions but typically involves greater recovery.
We will discuss realistic expectations before creating your treatment plan.
Can Acne Scars Be Completely Removed?
It is important to have realistic expectations.
No cosmetic procedure can guarantee that acne scars will completely disappear.
The goal is usually to soften the appearance of the scars, improve texture and make the skin look smoother overall.
Even meaningful improvement can make scars less noticeable because light reflects more evenly across a smoother skin surface.
We would rather give you a realistic treatment plan than promise “perfect skin.”
Why Acne Scar Treatment Often Requires a Combination Approach
Think of acne scars as a landscape.
One area may contain shallow rolling scars.
Another may have deeper boxcar scars.
You may also have enlarged pores, pigmentation and uneven texture.
One treatment may not address all of those concerns equally.
A combination strategy allows us to target different components of the problem.
For example, a treatment plan might focus on:
Resurfacing → collagen remodeling → pigmentation → skin maintenance
rather than repeatedly performing the same procedure.
What Is the Downtime After Acne Scar Treatment?
Downtime depends heavily on the procedure.
Microneedling
Redness and sensitivity are common initially, with relatively limited downtime for many patients.
RF Microneedling
Temporary redness, swelling or sensitivity may occur after treatment.
CoolPeel®
Patients may experience redness, dryness and a rough or sandpaper-like texture as the skin recovers.
Deeper CO2 Resurfacing
More aggressive resurfacing generally involves greater redness, peeling and recovery.
We will explain expected downtime before treatment so you can choose an approach that fits your lifestyle.
Our Skin-First Approach to Acne Scars
You may come into AIVI thinking:
“I need CO2 laser.”
After examining your skin, we may agree.
Or we may recommend starting with RF microneedling.
Or treating active acne first.
Or addressing pigmentation before aggressive resurfacing.
Or combining modalities over time.
That is intentional.
At AIVI Aesthetics, we do not believe every acne scar should receive the same procedure.
Our approach prioritizes:
- Identifying the type of acne scar
- Realistic expectations
- Skin health
- Appropriate treatment selection
- Collagen remodeling
- Pigmentation risk
- Natural-looking improvement
- Safety
- Long-term skin maintenance
The goal is not to perform the most aggressive procedure possible.
The goal is to choose the right amount of treatment for your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acne Scar Treatment
There is no single best acne-scar treatment. The appropriate option depends on scar type, depth, skin tone, pigmentation and downtime tolerance. CO2 laser, RF microneedling, traditional microneedling and combination treatments may all have a role.
CO2 laser resurfacing may improve selected depressed acne scars and overall texture by creating controlled resurfacing and stimulating skin remodeling. Treatment intensity should be individualized.
CoolPeel® may improve mild textural irregularities and overall skin quality. Deeper or more significant acne scars may require more intensive resurfacing or combination treatment.
RF microneedling may help improve acne scars by stimulating collagen remodeling. It can be particularly useful when scarring occurs with enlarged-looking pores and uneven texture.
RF microneedling adds radiofrequency energy to the microneedling process, allowing additional controlled thermal stimulation. Whether that makes it the better choice depends on the scar pattern, skin type, goals and desired downtime.
Microneedling is commonly performed as a series. The number of treatments varies according to scar severity and how your skin responds.
Yes. Acne scars can be treated years after the original acne has resolved, although the appropriate treatment depends on the scar and the current condition of the skin.
Acne-scar treatments are designed to improve and soften scars rather than guarantee complete removal. The amount of improvement varies between patients.
Treatments that improve collagen and texture, including microneedling, RF microneedling and selected resurfacing procedures, may make enlarged-looking pores less noticeable.
Often yes, but pigmentation should be considered when designing the treatment plan. Patients prone to PIH may require more conservative treatment, skin preparation and careful aftercare.
Ready to Improve Your Acne Scars?
If you’re ready to improve acne scars, uneven skin texture, enlarged-looking pores and the lingering effects of previous breakouts, we’re here to help.
Schedule your personalized consultation at AIVI Aesthetics to learn whether CO2 laser resurfacing or CoolPeel®, Vivace RF microneedling, traditional microneedling or a combination approach may be appropriate for your skin.
Call us directly at (818) 851-9900 or contact us. We’ll evaluate your acne scars, skin texture and pigmentation, answer your questions and develop a customized treatment plan based on your skin and goals.
We proudly welcome patients from Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Malibu, and communities throughout the Conejo Valley seeking personalized, medically guided acne scar and skin rejuvenation treatments.
