Acne scars develop when inflammation damages the deeper layers of the skin during the healing process.

As the skin repairs itself, collagen can be lost or scar tissue can form, leaving areas tethered down or creating deep, narrow indentations. Because different scar types develop in different ways, there is no single treatment that works for everyone.

At MPower Clinic, we use two advanced techniques that target the underlying causes of atrophic (depressed) acne scars:

Subcision is most effective for rolling scars and tethered scars. A specialised needle is inserted beneath the skin to carefully release the fibrous bands that pull the scar down. This allows the skin to elevate naturally whilst also creating a controlled healing response that stimulates new collagen production, gradually improving the scar's appearance over the following months.

TCA CROSS (Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars) is particularly effective for ice-pick scars and narrow boxcar scars. A tiny amount of high-strength TCA (trichloroacetic acid) is applied directly into each individual scar rather than across the whole face. This creates a controlled healing response within the scar itself, encouraging new collagen formation and gradually making the scar shallower over time.

Because most patients have a combination of rolling, boxcar and ice-pick scars, treatment is often tailored using both techniques during the same appointment. Depending on your skin and treatment goals, we may also recommend combining your treatment with chemical resurfacing, regenerative injectables or other collagen-stimulating procedures to optimise your final results.