“Dr. Mona was incredibly professional. Having had subcision before, I knew how painful numbing injections could be, but thanks to Dr. Mona’s expertise and the use of laughing gas, the pain was minimal. Everything went smoothly—from the blood draw and numbing injections to the subcision and finally the HALO laser treatment.”
Subcision Treatment in Vancouver
Subcision is a minor medical procedure used to improve the appearance of certain types of acne scars, particularly depressed or rolling scars caused by fibrous bands tethering the skin downward. By releasing these tethered scars, subcision allows the skin to lift, improving skin texture, contour, and shadowing associated with acne scarring.
At Shine MD, Dr. Mona Khurana has been performing subcision for over three years and is recognized as a leading provider of subcision in Vancouver. This treatment has become increasingly popular as part of modern acne scar correction because it directly addresses one of the root causes of depressed scarring.
How Subcision Works
Acne scars often appear sunken because fibrous bands pull the skin downward. During subcision, a specialized needle or cannula is inserted beneath the skin to carefully release these fibrotic strands. This process:
- Lifts depressed acne scars
- Improves uneven skin texture
- Reduces shadowing and contour irregularities
- Stimulates the body’s natural collagen response
Over time, new collagen forms in the treated areas, further improving the appearance of acne scars.
Enhanced Results with Combination Treatments
While subcision can be performed on its own, Dr. Khurana and the team at Shine MD have found that patients achieve superior, longer‑lasting results when subcision is combined with other collagen‑stimulating treatments.
Subcision + PRP
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is derived from the patient’s own blood and contains a concentrated supply of growth factors that support tissue repair.
When combined with subcision, PRP:
- Accelerates healing
- Enhances collagen and elastin production
- Improves skin texture and quality
- May reduce downtime and bruising
- Helps maintain longer-lasting improvement
PRP essentially supports and amplifies the healing process that subcision initiates.
- Uses the body’s natural regenerative processes
- Avoids implants or synthetic fillers
- Provides gradual, natural-looking improvement
Subcision + Sculptra®
Subcision is often complemented with Sculptra®, an injectable biostimulator that helps further boost collagen production in the treated areas. When used after subcision, Sculptra:
- Supports long‑term collagen regeneration
- Helps maintain lifted scar areas
- Improves overall skin quality and firmness
This combination is especially effective for patients with volume loss and widespread acne scarring.
Stacked Treatments for Acne Scarring
At Shine MD, we specialize in stacked or layered treatment plans, addressing multiple components of acne scarring in a single visit. These comprehensive protocols are customized to your skin type, scar pattern, and goals.
A typical stacked subcision treatment may include:
- PRP (Platelet‑Rich Plasma) preparation
- Local anesthesia for comfort
- Subcision to release tethered scars
- Follow‑up energy‑based treatments such as:
- HALO® Hybrid Fractional Laser
- Radiofrequency Microneedling
- PicoSure Pro®
- Laser peels or resurfacing treatments
These technologies work synergistically to:
- Stimulate collagen at multiple depths
- Improve texture, tone, and scar visibility
- Address pigmentation, redness, and residual surface irregularities
By layering treatments in one session, we can deliver more comprehensive acne scar improvement while optimizing downtime and recovery.
What to Expect During Your Subcision Treatment
It is very common for patients to feel nervous before subcision treatment, especially after watching online videos that can make the procedure look intimidating or uncomfortable. In reality, when performed with proper technique, preparation, and patient support, subcision is very well tolerated.
At Shine MD, patient comfort is a top priority. Dr. Khurana performs subcision using a gentle, precise approach designed to maximize results while minimizing discomfort and downtime.
We create a calm, supportive, and relaxed treatment environment. To ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure, we offer several comfort measures, including:
- Topical and local anesthetic numbing
- Oral relaxation medication such as Ativan (when appropriate)
- Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for additional comfort and anxiety relief
A slow, careful treatment pace tailored to each patient
Dr. Khurana takes time to carefully release scar tissue using advanced techniques that focus on safety, effectiveness, and patient experience. Many patients are pleasantly surprised by how manageable and tolerable the treatment feels compared to what they expected.
After treatment, temporary swelling, bruising, and tenderness are normal and typically improve over the following days. Detailed aftercare instructions are provided to support healing and optimize results.
Our goal is to make your subcision experience as comfortable, supportive, and effective as possible while helping you achieve meaningful improvement in skin texture and scarring.
Why Choose Shine MD for Subcision in Vancouver
- Performed by Dr. Mona Khurana, an experienced subcision provider
- Advanced combination and stacked treatment protocols
- Access to industry‑leading laser and radiofrequency technologies
- Customized treatment plans for all acne scar types
- Medical‑grade care in a modern Vancouver clinic
Learn More About Subcision
Rolling acne scars, also known as atrophic scars, are wavy depressions in the skin with gentle, sloping edges. These scars occur when fibrotic strands of scar tissue form under the skin, causing uneven skin texture, especially in certain angles of lighting.
During a subcision treatment, a cannula is gently inserted into the skin and used to break the fibrotic bands that connect the scar to the underlying tissue. This lifts the depressed scar and helps correct the deficiency in volume. The process also triggers the body’s natural healing process where the needle was inserted, prompting the development of new collagen and further improving the appearance of the scar.
Before your subcision treatment begins, your skin will be prepped and cleansed. Then, one of our physicians will inject a local anesthetic to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. You may also request the use of nitrous oxide or Pronox to further improve your patient experience.
Once the area is numb, your physician will insert a hypodermic needle horizontally under the surface of the skin. They will then gently move the needle in a fan-like motion to break the fibrous bands and release the scar.
Once the procedure is complete, your physician will apply pressure and ice to the treated area to help soothe the skin. The length of the procedure is determined by the extent of the scarring, but most treatments will take around 30 minutes.
After a subcision procedure, you may experience some pain, swelling, or bruising in the treated area, which typically resolves after one to two weeks. You may take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease any pain or swelling.
You will be able to apply makeup to conceal bruised areas, but we recommend that you allow 1-2 weeks for complete resolution of swelling and bruising to ensure adequate social downtime. After a subcision treatment, most patients note having swelling and some bruising, and report that they are back to their normal social activities within one week.
After subcision, the appearance of acne scars is visibly reduced, improving the texture and volume of the skin. According to a study published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, “Subcision is a safe, simple technique that provides significant long-term improvement in the ‘rolling scars’ of selected patients. It can be safely and easily combined with other treatments for acne scars.”
For best results, multiple subcision treatments are recommended. Depending on the severity of the scarring and each individual’s healing experience, most patients will require three to six treatments. Subsequent procedures can be performed after at least four weeks.
While subcision can greatly improve the appearance of acne scars, it cannot eliminate them completely. Subcision treatments can be combined with platelet-rich plasma for improved results. Subcision can also be performed in conjunction with other acne scar treatments, including microneedling and laser therapy. To learn more about our acne scar treatments, visit our Acne Clinic.
You may be a good candidate for subcision if you have rolling acne scars that disrupt the texture of your skin. We do not recommend subcision for patients who have active acne. Subcision is not suitable for all types of acne scars, and a consultation with one of our trained physicians is necessary to determine if subcision is the best option for you.
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Before & After Gallery
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*Individual results may vary.
