Skin Clinic Korea · Gangnam, Seoul
Treatment Guide · Acne Scar TreatmentAcne Scar Removal Korea:
Treatment by Scar Type
Not all acne scars respond to the same treatment, and matching the method to the scar type matters more than picking a trending procedure. Ice pick, rolling, and boxcar scars respond to different techniques entirely, which is why an assessment of scar type comes before any recommendation.
What is the best treatment for acne scars in Korea? The best approach depends on scar type. Ice pick scars are usually treated one by one with TCA CROSS (a strong acid applied inside each scar) or punch excision. Rolling scars respond to subcision, which cuts the bands pulling the skin down, often followed by microneedling or fractional laser. Boxcar scars are treated with fractional laser, punch techniques or a mix. Most plans combine two or more techniques.
Understanding
Acne Scar Types
Three scar types
Ice pick scars are narrow and deep, and are usually treated scar by scar with TCA CROSS or, for the deepest ones, punch excision. Rolling scars create a wave-like unevenness because bands of scar tissue tether the skin to deeper layers; subcision releases those bands, and microneedling or fractional laser can then help remodel collagen across the area. Boxcar scars have sharper, more defined edges and often need a combination of resurfacing and volume-restoring techniques to blend into surrounding skin.
Treatment by
Scar Type
A detailed skin assessment under proper lighting is essential before starting, since most patients have a mix of scar types rather than just one, and the plan needs to reflect that mix.
| Good Fit If You… | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Have deep, narrow ice pick scars | TCA CROSS treats each scar individually over several sessions; very deep ones may be cut out with a punch |
| Have wave-like rolling scars | Subcision releases the tethering bands, often followed by microneedling, RF microneedling or fractional laser |
| Have sharp-edged boxcar scars | A combination of resurfacing and volume techniques softens the defined edges |
| Have darker skin or a history of keloids | Gentler settings or non-laser options are considered, since post-inflammatory darkening and keloids are more common in skin of colour |
| Have active, inflamed acne | Scar treatment is postponed until active breakouts are under control |
Recovery Timeline
by Method
Subcision typically involves a few days of bruising and swelling, while microneedling-based approaches need a shorter, milder recovery spread across multiple sessions. Improvement builds over several months and a course of treatments, not a single visit.
For the broader collagen-stimulating category this often overlaps with, see our skin rejuvenation guide, and if enlarged pores are part of the same concern, pore treatment in Gangnam addresses that overlap.
Frequently Asked
Questions
- What does subcision involve?
- A needle or small blade is passed beneath the scar to cut the fibrous bands tethering it to deeper tissue, allowing the skin to sit more evenly. It is mainly used for rolling scars and is often combined with filler, microneedling or laser afterward.
- Are chemical peels safe for acne scars?
- Chemical peels can help with shallow scarring and overall texture, but deeper scars usually need a more targeted approach such as TCA CROSS, subcision or fractional laser. Peels can darken skin temporarily, especially in darker skin tones, so a clinic should assess scar depth and skin type first.
- Can multiple scar treatments be combined?
- Yes, and combination approaches are common since most patients have a mix of scar types that respond to different techniques. Your clinic should sequence these based on your specific scar pattern rather than applying one method to everything.
- What results can I realistically expect?
- Most treatments improve the appearance of scarring significantly rather than eliminating it completely, and results build gradually over several months. Setting expectations around meaningful improvement, rather than a completely scar-free outcome, leads to more satisfying results.
- What determines the cost of acne scar treatment?
- Cost depends on which techniques are combined, how many sessions are needed, and the extent of scarring being treated. A detailed consultation should result in a written estimate reflecting your specific plan.
Sources &
Verification Notes
Where we found a real, checkable source for a claim above, we’ve linked it here. Where we couldn’t, or found the approved indication narrower than common marketing language, we say so rather than leaving it unstated.
- Combinations tend to do better than single treatments: a 2025 network meta-analysis of 68 randomized trials (4,480 patients, searched to September 2024) ranked laser plus PRP and laser plus filler highest for reducing scar severity and found microneedling the least painful. Source: Wu B et al., PeerJ, 2025, PubMed 41081097.
- Matching technique to scar type: a 2022 review of non-energy treatments reports the most consistent results for ice pick scars with repeated TCA or phenol CROSS, describes subcision as the approach that releases the tethers of rolling scars, and punch techniques for deep boxcar scars. Source: Tam C et al., Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol, 2022, PMC8963193.
- Skin of colour: post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and keloid scarring after acne are more common in skin of colour. Source: DermNet.
- Subcision evidence: Ahramiyanpour N et al., review of clinical trials on subcision for acne scarring, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (published online October 2022). Source: Wiley Online Library.
- Where a combination plan includes PRP, the approval caveats noted in our skin rejuvenation guide apply.
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Background evidence: A Review and Update of Treatment Options Using the Acne Scar Classification System (PubMed).