ERBIUM
Acne scars are not permanent. Your treatment plan shouldn't be generic.
Ice pick, boxcar, rolling, or raised — every acne scar has a different depth, shape, and story. Matthew Onassis, DNP maps yours and matches it to the exact laser wavelength, depth, and density it needs, using AI-guided multi-wavelength technology and the gold-standard erbium platforms trusted worldwide.
A wound in the dermis needs a treatment that reaches the dermis
Acne scars form when inflamed breakouts damage collagen in the deeper layers of the skin. As the skin heals, it either produces too little collagen — leaving a depression — or too much, leaving a raised scar. Creams and surface-level facials can't rebuild collagen at that depth.
That's why laser resurfacing remains the most effective, evidence-based approach to acne scar revision: it removes damaged tissue with micron-level precision and triggers your skin to rebuild fresh collagen and elastin from within.
The five types of acne scarring we treat
Most people have a combination of scar types — which is exactly why a single-setting, one-laser approach falls short.
Ice pick scars
Narrow, deep pits that look like the skin was punctured. Because they extend deep into the dermis, they respond best to focused, high-depth fractional erbium channels and energy stacking directly over each scar.
Boxcar scars
Broad depressions with sharp, defined edges, often on the cheeks and temples. Ablative erbium resurfacing softens the edges and levels the base so light stops casting shadows into the scar.
Rolling scars
Wave-like, soft-edged depressions caused by fibrous bands pulling the skin downward. These respond beautifully to full-field or high-density fractional resurfacing combined with collagen-stimulating treatments.
Hypertrophic & raised scars
Firm, elevated scars from an overproduction of collagen. Treatment focuses on flattening and remodeling the tissue with carefully controlled laser passes and combination therapy.
Post-inflammatory marks (PIH & PIE)
The dark spots (hyperpigmentation) and red marks (erythema) breakouts leave behind. These aren't true scars — and they clear fastest with light-based treatments like BBL™ paired with gentle resurfacing.
Every technology in our library reaches a different depth
Scar revision is a question of depth. This is why Matthew selects — and often combines — technologies based on where your scars live in the skin.
Multiple wavelengths. One intelligent treatment.
Traditional lasers deliver a single wavelength at a single depth — useful, but limited when scars vary across your face. Some of our most advanced systems, including Tribrid™, use AI-assisted, software-guided energy delivery to combine multiple laser wavelengths in a single session.
Intelligent delivery means the system helps sequence and regulate energy in real time, so each wavelength does its own job in the same treatment:
- Superficial wavelengths resurface texture and lift discoloration
- Mid-depth wavelengths remodel boxcar and rolling scars
- Deep-reaching energy stimulates collagen where scars are anchored
The result: multi-depth correction with more consistency, more safety, and fewer total sessions than treating each layer separately.
Acne scar treatments at Onassis Skin Health
Most scar revision plans combine two or more of these — customized by depth, density, and wavelength for each area of your face.
ProFractional™ Erbium
Creates microscopic treatment channels while leaving surrounding skin intact for fast healing. The workhorse for ice pick and boxcar scars, with adjustable depth and density per zone. Downtime: about 3–6 days.
Erbium TRL Resurfacing
The Tunable Resurfacing Laser precisely vaporizes damaged surface tissue at any depth — from a light polish to full-field deep resurfacing. Often transformative for severe scarring in a single treatment. Downtime: about 7–12 days.
Tribrid™ Multi-Wavelength Laser
Intelligent, software-guided delivery combines multiple wavelengths in one session to treat texture, pigment, and deeper scarring at the same time — multi-depth correction with a single recovery window.
BBL™ (BroadBand Light)
Clears the red and brown marks acne leaves behind (PIE and PIH) and evens overall tone. Frequently layered with resurfacing for a complete correction.
RF Microneedling
Radiofrequency energy delivered through microneedles tightens and remodels deeper tissue — an excellent partner treatment for rolling scars and skin laxity.
Combination Protocols
For tethered or volume-deficient scars, laser resurfacing can be paired with Sculptra® or dermal fillers to lift depressions and support long-term collagen rebuilding.
What to expect at your appointment
Every acne scar treatment begins with a detailed skin analysis and scar mapping. From there, your session includes:
- Topical numbing and/or nerve blocks for comfort
- Customized laser passes by scar type, depth, and density
- Targeted energy stacking over stubborn individual scars
- Post-laser cooling and barrier repair
- The Onassis-exclusive healing protocol to guide your recovery
Results timeline: early improvement appears within 7–10 days, texture refines over 3–6 weeks, and collagen remodeling continues for 4–6 months. Fractional treatments may take 1–3 sessions; fully ablative TRL is typically a one-time procedure.
Ideal candidates
- Acne scarring — ice pick, boxcar, rolling, or mixed
- Post-acne pigmentation or persistent redness
- Uneven texture, enlarged pores, or etched lines
- Those wanting more dramatic results than gentler lasers like Halo or Moxi offer
Not recommended for
Pregnant or breastfeeding patients, anyone with a very recent tan or sunburn, and skin with active infections or open wounds. Active cystic acne is typically calmed first, then scars are treated. Your consultation will confirm the safest, most effective plan for your skin type.
Why patients choose Matthew Onassis, DNP
Matthew is internationally recognized for his expertise in laser engineering, advanced resurfacing, and aesthetic technology integration — with training spanning Korea, Europe, and the Middle East.
Acne scar revision is where that technical depth matters most. Matthew doesn't run preset programs; he engineers each treatment scar by scar — adjusting wavelength, micron depth, density, and energy stacking per area, with safety-first protocols and a healing plan designed around your skin.
Acne scar treatment FAQ
What is the best laser treatment for acne scars?
Erbium laser resurfacing is widely considered the gold standard for acne scars because it removes damaged tissue with micron-level precision, produces less heat damage than CO₂ lasers, and heals faster. The "best" laser depends on your scar types — which is why we often combine fractional erbium, fully ablative TRL, and AI-guided multi-wavelength technology like Tribrid™ in one plan.
Can acne scars be removed permanently?
Laser resurfacing produces long-lasting structural change: damaged tissue is removed and replaced with new collagen your body builds over 4–6 months. Deep scars can be dramatically softened — often in a single ablative treatment — though very deep ice pick scars may retain a subtle trace. Most patients see a significant, lasting transformation.
How many sessions will I need?
Fractional erbium typically takes 1–3 sessions. Fully ablative TRL resurfacing is usually a one-time procedure for deep scarring. Multi-wavelength and light-based treatments for pigmentation may be done in a short series.
What is an AI multi-wavelength laser?
It's a laser platform that uses intelligent, software-guided delivery to sequence and regulate multiple wavelengths within a single treatment. Each wavelength targets a different depth — surface texture, mid-dermis scarring, and deep collagen — so more scar types can be corrected in one session with greater consistency.
How much downtime should I plan for?
Fractional erbium: roughly 3–6 days of social downtime. Fully ablative TRL: roughly 7–12 days, with residual pinkness that can last several weeks depending on depth. We provide a step-by-step healing protocol for every patient.
Does laser scar treatment hurt?
Comfort is built into every session. Depending on treatment depth, we use topical numbing and, for deeper resurfacing, nerve blocks — so treatment is very tolerable for the vast majority of patients.
Is erbium safer than CO₂ for acne scars?
Erbium:YAG targets water in the skin with extreme precision, producing cleaner ablation and less thermal damage than CO₂. That generally means faster healing, more controlled depth targeting, and a lower risk profile — while still delivering deep, transformative correction.
Can I treat acne scars if I still get breakouts?
Active, inflamed acne is usually calmed first — often with BBL™ and medical skincare — before resurfacing the scars. Treating in the right order protects your results and your skin.
Your scars are unique. Your treatment will be too.
Book a consultation and receive a scar-by-scar treatment map — with the exact technologies, depths, and timeline recommended for your skin.
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