Before-and-after photos are often the first thing people look for when researching scar treatment. They can be useful, but they rarely tell the complete story.

A dramatic “after” image may represent several treatments performed over many months. One patient may have undergone microneedling, while another needed laser resurfacing, injections, a minor scar procedure, or surgical scar treatment. Lighting, makeup, camera angle, healing stage, and even whether active acne has been controlled can also change how impressive a result appears.

Most importantly, scars are not all the same. Depressed acne scars, raised hypertrophic scars, keloids, surgical scars, discolored scars, and contractures require different approaches. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends identifying the scar type before selecting treatment because scar characteristics, age, symptoms, skin tone, and other individual factors can influence the treatment plan.

That means the best scar treatment should not be judged only by the most dramatic before-and-after photograph. It should be judged by whether the procedure was appropriate for the patient’s scar and produced meaningful improvement without creating unnecessary risk.

For clients researching scar treatments in Los Angeles, this guide explains what happens before treatment, how different scars may improve, why results take time, how to compare before-and-after photos, and when scar removal surgery may—or may not—be appropriate.

What Does a Good Scar Treatment Result Actually Mean?

Scar improvement does not always mean making a scar invisible.

Depending on your starting point, a successful result may mean that the scar becomes:

• Flatter
• Smoother
• Less deeply depressed
• Less raised
• Less red
• Less noticeable in normal lighting
• Softer
• Less itchy or uncomfortable
• Better blended with surrounding skin
• Less restrictive when movement is affected

Scar revision can improve the appearance or function of a scar, but even surgical revision cannot completely erase scar tissue. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes scar revision as an attempt to make a scar less conspicuous and more compatible with surrounding skin, rather than a method of returning skin to a completely untouched state.

This is an important distinction when evaluating claims about scar removal, best scar removal, or a “permanent scar removal treatment.”

Before Scar Treatment: Start With the Correct Diagnosis

Two scars can look similar in a photograph but behave very differently.

Before recommending treatment, the scar should be evaluated for characteristics such as:

• Whether it is raised or depressed
• Width and depth
• Color
• Texture
• Location
• Age of the scar
• Pain or itching
• Whether it is growing
• Whether it extends beyond the original wound
• Whether movement is restricted
• Previous scar treatments
• History of keloids
• Active acne or skin disease

AAD notes that different scar types require different treatment and recommends medical evaluation, particularly when the diagnosis is uncertain. A scar-like area that appeared without a known injury also deserves dermatologic assessment because some skin conditions, including skin cancers, can resemble scars.

The first step toward the best treatment for scars is therefore understanding what you are actually treating.

Acne Scar Before and After Results

Acne can leave several types of scars on the same face.

One person may have relatively shallow depressions, while another has deeper ice-pick or rolling scars. Raised scars can also occur. AAD explains that acne-scar treatment is individualized according to the types and number of scars, skin tone, age, budget, and other factors, and combination treatment is often used when different scar types are present.

A facial scar treatment plan may include:

• Microneedling
• Laser resurfacing
• Chemical peeling
• Fillers for selected depressed scars
• Minor acne-scar procedures
• Medical treatment for raised scars
• Combination therapy

Because these treatments work differently, “before and after acne scar treatment” should not be evaluated as though every person received the same procedure.

Why Active Acne Matters Before Facial Scar Treatment

Treating existing acne scars while significant new breakouts continue can limit the overall result because new inflammatory acne can create additional scarring.

AAD recommends controlling active acne as part of an acne-scar plan and continuing appropriate acne management when needed to reduce the development of new scars.

For someone seeking facial scar treatment, this can mean that the first stage is not a laser or microneedling appointment at all—it may be bringing active acne under control.

That provides a more stable foundation for evaluating scar improvement later.

Microneedling Before and After: What Can Change?

Medical microneedling creates controlled punctures in the skin. FDA has legally authorized certain microneedling devices to improve the appearance of facial acne scars and abdominal scars in patients aged 22 and older. More than one procedure may be needed, and results are not guaranteed.

For an appropriate depressed scar, improvement may develop gradually rather than immediately.

This is because the goal is not to physically “erase” the scar during the appointment. The skin undergoes a remodeling process afterward, which means the final result must be assessed after healing rather than immediately after the needling session.

Temporary post-treatment effects can include redness, bruising, bleeding, tightness, itching, peeling, or crusting. FDA also identifies less common risks such as pigment changes, cold-sore reactivation, swollen lymph nodes, and infection.

A photo taken while the skin is temporarily swollen or red does not represent the final skin scar treatment result.

One Microneedling Session vs a Series

A common mistake is expecting a dramatic transformation after one appointment.

FDA notes that more than one microneedling procedure may be required and that improvements may not always be permanent, meaning future maintenance can sometimes be considered.

AAD similarly notes that treatment for acne scars is often not a one-time process and may involve several procedures or a combination of methods.

The number of sessions should therefore depend on your scar and response—not on a universal package marketed to everyone.

Laser Scar Treatment Before and After

Laser treatment is another broad category.

Different laser and light devices may be used to address different aspects of a scar. Dermatologists may use them to improve selected depressed acne scars, reduce redness, reduce the prominence of raised scars or keloids, and sometimes improve scar-related symptoms such as itching, discomfort, stiffness, or restricted movement.

This means a laser before-and-after result should be interpreted according to the target.

For example:

If the Main Problem Is Redness

A successful outcome might show a scar that remains structurally present but blends better in color.

If the Main Problem Is Texture

A resurfacing approach may aim to soften irregularities or reduce the appearance of selected depressed scars.

If the Scar Is Raised

A laser may be used differently and can sometimes be combined with medical injections.

One laser cannot be assumed to provide the best scar treatment for every scar.

Microneedling vs Laser: Which Gives Better Before and After Results?

Neither procedure is automatically superior.

Microneedling can be useful for selected acne or abdominal scars, while lasers offer several different treatment possibilities depending on the scar’s color, elevation, texture, and other characteristics.

The choice may depend on:

• Scar type
• Scar depth
• Skin tone
• Pigmentation
• Previous treatments
• Desired improvement
• Downtime preferences
• Medical history
• Provider expertise

Some people may receive both types of treatment at different stages.

The best treatment for scars is therefore the one that targets the problem you actually have—not necessarily whichever treatment produces the most impressive social-media video.

Raised Scar Before and After Results

Raised hypertrophic scars and keloids require a different strategy from depressed scars.

AAD explains that hypertrophic scars and keloids may be treated with approaches such as corticosteroid or other medication injections, laser or light therapy, cryosurgery, pressure treatment, and surgery in selected cases. More than one modality may be recommended because keloids in particular can return after treatment.

For a raised scar, a meaningful before-and-after change may involve:

• Reduced height
• Softer texture
• Less redness
• Reduced itching
• Less pain
• Improved flexibility

Complete disappearance is not the only measure of success.

Why Keloid Before and After Photos Need Extra Context

Keloids can extend beyond the boundaries of the original injury and may recur even after apparently successful treatment.

AAD notes that recurrence is one reason multiple treatments are often combined when managing keloids. Surgery alone is not necessarily the end of treatment.

When examining a keloid before-and-after photo, ask:

• How long after treatment was the “after” image taken?
• Was surgery involved?
• Were injections or laser treatments also used?
• Did the keloid remain controlled long term?
• Was this the first treatment or treatment for recurrence?

A photo taken shortly after treatment tells much less than a long-term follow-up.

Surgical Scar Treatment Before and After

Surgical scar treatment is more accurately described as scar revision than literal scar removal.

During revision, a surgeon may remove or reposition scar tissue and close the new wound in a way intended to produce a more favorable scar. Depending on the problem, techniques can include layered closure, local tissue rearrangement, Z-plasty, W-plasty, flaps, grafting, or other reconstructive methods.

Surgery may be considered for scars that are:

• Very wide
• Poorly positioned
• Contracted
• Structurally irregular
• Functionally restrictive
• Unlikely to improve sufficiently with nonsurgical treatment

A plastic surgeon should determine whether the expected improvement justifies another surgical procedure.

Does Scar Removal Surgery Really Remove the Scar?

The phrase scar removal surgery is popular, but technically it can create the wrong expectation.

The existing scar may be excised, but the new incision must also heal with scar formation.

The objective is to trade an unfavorable scar for one that may be:

• Narrower
• Better positioned
• Better aligned with surrounding tissue
• More flexible
• Less noticeable

ASPS emphasizes that scar revision can improve appearance but cannot completely erase a scar.

This is why “best scar removal” should be understood as achieving the most favorable realistic scar—not producing skin with no evidence of previous injury.

How Long Does Surgical Scar Revision Take to Heal?

Scar revision results cannot be judged when the stitches first come out.

ASPS states that the initial healing period after surgical scar revision may involve localized swelling, discoloration, or discomfort for approximately one to two weeks. The scar continues changing afterward, and final refinement can take several months; in some cases, complete scar maturation may take a year.

This is important when comparing before-and-after images.

A three-week postoperative result is not the same as a one-year result.

Facial Scar Treatment Before and After: What Makes a Good Result?

Facial scars often involve multiple visual features:

• Depression
• Uneven surface texture
• Redness
• Dark pigmentation
• Light pigmentation
• Irregular shadows
• Active acne
• Multiple scar types

A good facial scar treatment plan should identify which of these characteristics is driving the scar’s visibility.

Someone with deep depressed scars may require a different sequence from someone whose main problem is discoloration.

AAD specifically notes that ice-pick, rolling, and other acne scars may require different treatment and that combination approaches are often used.

The before-and-after goal should therefore be defined before treatment starts.

How to Evaluate Scar Treatment Before and After Photos

Before-and-after photographs can be valuable, but use them intelligently.

1. Look for a Similar Scar Type

Do not use a shallow acne-scar result to predict what will happen to a keloid or surgical contracture.

2. Compare Similar Skin Characteristics

Skin tone and tendency toward pigmentation changes can influence treatment planning.

3. Ask Which Procedures Were Used

A result labeled “scar treatment” may actually represent several treatments.

4. Ask How Many Sessions Were Needed

AAD notes that acne-scar treatment commonly requires multiple treatments and can use several modalities.

5. Look for Healed Results

Temporary swelling can make depressed scars look smoother immediately after treatment.

Wait for healed photographs whenever possible.

6. Compare Lighting and Angles

Side lighting can make depressed scars look dramatically deeper. Soft frontal lighting can make the same scars appear much less visible.

7. Look for Texture and Color

Do not focus only on whether the scar looks smaller. Assess surrounding pigmentation and overall skin quality too.

8. Ask About Long-Term Follow-Up

This is particularly important with raised scars and keloids because recurrence can occur.

Why Scar Results Take Time

Many scar treatments depend on biological remodeling rather than immediate removal of tissue.

AAD explains that treatments for depressed acne scars often work by encouraging processes that improve collagen and elastin, and visible improvement takes time.

Surgical scars also mature gradually.

This means scar treatment should be judged at an appropriate interval after healing rather than immediately after a procedure.

More treatment is not necessarily better when the skin has not yet had enough time to show its response.

Scar Treatment Healing and Aftercare

There is no single aftercare protocol for every treatment for scars.

Microneedling, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, injections, and surgery all create different healing needs.

General principles may include:

• Follow procedure-specific instructions
• Avoid picking or scratching
• Use only recommended skincare during early healing
• Protect healing skin from excessive sun exposure
• Attend scheduled follow-ups
• Continue appropriate acne treatment when acne remains active
• Avoid adding strong exfoliants or home procedures unless approved

AAD recommends continuing acne control when needed because new breakouts can lead to new scars, and post-treatment skin care can influence the overall result.

After surgical revision, ASPS advises carefully following postoperative wound-care instructions and protecting the incision from excessive force or abrasion during healing.

When Should You Contact a Healthcare Professional?

Post-procedure instructions should explain expected symptoms and warning signs.

Contact the treating professional if recovery is not following the expected course, particularly with concerning worsening symptoms such as increasing pain, significant swelling, spreading redness, drainage, fever, wound separation, or other signs that could indicate a complication.

Scar revision surgery carries potential risks including infection, poor wound healing, persistent pain, skin discoloration, unfavorable scarring, and the possibility that another revision may eventually be necessary.

Scar Treatment Results for Different Problems

Problem: Depressed Acne Scars

Possible solution: Microneedling, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, fillers, minor acne-scar procedures, or combination treatment depending on scar type.

Problem: Raised Hypertrophic Scar

Possible solution: Medical assessment for injections, laser/light treatment, or other raised-scar therapy.

Problem: Keloid

Possible solution: Combination medical management may be needed because recurrence is possible.

Problem: Wide Surgical Scar

Possible solution: A plastic surgeon may assess whether surgical scar treatment can create a more favorable scar.

Problem: Scar That Restricts Movement

Possible solution: Medical or surgical assessment rather than routine cosmetic resurfacing. Scar revision techniques can sometimes improve flexibility when contracture affects motion.

Problem: Scar Is Mostly Red

Possible solution: A dermatologist may consider appropriately selected laser or light treatment depending on the diagnosis.

Can an Old Scar Still Improve?

A mature scar is not necessarily untreatable.

AAD notes that scar age can affect treatment selection, but treatment can still make many scars less noticeable. Some scars naturally fade with time, whereas depressed acne scars and keloids are less likely to disappear without treatment.

The appropriate plan depends more on the scar’s current features—depth, thickness, color, texture, symptoms, and location—than on age alone.

Who Should Be Careful With Scar Procedures?

Contraindications differ by procedure.

For medical microneedling, FDA highlights considerations including active infection, bleeding disorders or certain anticoagulant use, immune suppression, uncontrolled diabetes, some inflammatory skin conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, keloid history, and other factors that may make treatment inappropriate or require additional evaluation.

For scar removal surgery, candidate selection includes general health, active skin disease, smoking status, and realistic expectations.

A consultation should therefore include medical history—not simply a photograph of the scar.

Choosing Scar Treatments in Los Angeles

When comparing scar treatments in Los Angeles, ask the provider to explain what type of scar you have and precisely what the proposed treatment is expected to change.

Useful questions include:

• What type of scar is this?
• What part of the scar can treatment improve?
• What result is realistic?
• Will I need more than one treatment?
• Are combination treatments likely?
• How long before I can evaluate the final result?
• What downtime should I expect?
• Could my scar become darker, lighter, or more noticeable?
• Who will perform the procedure?
• What happens if I develop a complication?
• Can I see healed results from scars similar to mine?

California’s Medical Board states that procedures intended to medically treat or remove scarring fall within medical treatment, and medical-level laser procedures and other medical treatments must be performed within the appropriate professional scope.

For clients coming from Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Century City, Bel Air, or Culver City, our Westwood location makes consultation and appropriately spaced follow-up visits convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Scar Treatment?

There is no single best scar treatment for everyone. The appropriate approach depends on whether the scar is depressed, raised, keloidal, surgical, discolored, or restrictive. Treatment may involve microneedling, laser therapy, injections, resurfacing, scar procedures, or surgical revision.

Can Scar Treatment Completely Remove a Scar?

Usually not. Scar treatment aims to make a scar less noticeable or improve symptoms and function. Even surgical scar revision cannot guarantee complete scar elimination.

What Is the Best Treatment for Scars From Acne?

The best treatment for scars caused by acne depends on the scar types present. Options can include microneedling, laser resurfacing, peels, fillers, minor scar procedures, and combinations of treatments.

Does Microneedling Work as a Skin Scar Treatment?

FDA has authorized certain microneedling devices to improve the appearance of facial acne scars and abdominal scars in adults aged 22 and older. More than one procedure may be necessary, and the treatment is not appropriate for every person or every scar.

How Long Before I See Facial Scar Treatment Results?

The timing depends on the procedure. Many acne-scar treatments produce gradual improvement as the skin heals and remodels, and multiple sessions may be necessary.

Is Scar Removal Surgery Better Than Laser Treatment?

Not universally. Scar removal surgery may be more appropriate when a scar has a structural problem such as unfavorable width, position, or contracture. Laser treatment may be more useful for other features such as selected scar texture, redness, or raised tissue.

Does Surgical Scar Treatment Leave Another Scar?

Yes. Surgical scar treatment creates a new incision. The purpose is to produce a scar that is less conspicuous, better positioned, or more functional—not scar-free skin.

How Long Does Scar Removal Surgery Take to Heal?

The early recovery after scar revision may take roughly one to two weeks, but the new scar continues changing for months and may take up to a year to fully mature in some cases.

Can Old Scars Be Treated?

Yes, some mature scars can still be improved. The best scar removal strategy depends on the scar’s current depth, elevation, color, texture, symptoms, and location rather than age alone.

Where Can I Find Scar Treatments in Los Angeles?

When considering scar treatments in Los Angeles, choose a consultation that identifies your scar type before recommending treatment and provides realistic expectations about improvement, healing, and the number of sessions. Westwood is convenient for Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Century City, Bel Air, Culver City, and nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Look Beyond the Before-and-After Photo

The most successful scar removal treatment is not necessarily the one that produces the fastest visible change. A meaningful result comes from identifying the scar correctly, choosing an appropriate treatment, allowing the skin enough time to heal, and evaluating the final outcome realistically.

Book a consultation for scar treatments in Los Angeles to discuss your scar type, treatment options, expected before-and-after improvement, healing, facial scar treatment, and whether nonsurgical care or surgical scar treatment is appropriate for your goals.

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