SKIN CARE · ACNE SCARS

Acne Scar Treatment: Smoothing Pitted and Rolling Scars — Istanbul

Acne scars are changes in skin texture left by inflamed acne; most are depressed, a few raised. Treatment remodels collagen, releases tethered scars or lifts depressions. Veneta in Nişantaşı offers acne scar treatment, planned by a physician after an assessment.

Last updated: October 2026

At a Glance

Type

Scar remodelling: devices, needling, injections

Methods

Morpheus8, fractional CO2, Dermapen, subcision, TCA CROSS, fillers, PRP

Sessions

Usually 1–5 per method, weeks to months apart

Results

Gradual over 3–6 months; partial improvement

Downtime

Days (needling) to about a week (CO2 laser)

Start

Once acne is under control

What Are Acne Scars?

Most acne scars are atrophic (depressed), from collagen loss after inflamed spots; hypertrophic and keloid scars are raised, from excess collagen. Severe, long-lasting acne scars more often; picking raises the risk (DermNet).

Flat red or brown marks are usually not scars but post-inflammatory redness or hyperpigmentation, which usually fades, though this can take months or longer (AAD, DermNet).

Active acne comes first: controlling breakouts prevents new scars, so scar treatment typically starts once acne is under control (AAD; see acne treatment).

Acne Scar Treatment Options

Method	How it works	Mainly for
Morpheus8 RF microneedling	Insulated pins heat the dermis with radiofrequency	Rolling and boxcar scars; all skin tones
Fractional CO2 laser	Vaporises narrow columns of skin, sparing the skin between	Shallow boxcar scars, texture; caution in darker skin
Dermapen microneedling	Fine needles prompt new collagen, without heat	Rolling and boxcar scars; all skin tones
Subcision, often with filler	Cuts the fibrous bands tethering a scar; filler lifts it	Rolling scars
TCA CROSS	High-strength (65% or stronger) trichloroacetic acid applied inside each scar	Ice-pick scars
PRP	Platelet-rich plasma from your own blood	Add-on to needling, laser or subcision

Types of Acne Scars

Ice-pick: narrow (under 2 mm), deep, V-shaped pits, deeper than conventional resurfacing reaches; DermNet puts them at 60–70% of atrophic scars.
Boxcar: round or oval dips with sharp edges, usually 1.5–4 mm wide.
Rolling: wide (over 4–5 mm), shallow waves from fibrous bands under the skin; they flatten when stretched.
Hypertrophic and keloid: raised, firm scars, often on the jawline, chest or back, treated with, for example, corticosteroid injections or silicone; keloids can recur.

Who It Suits — and Who Should Wait

Adults with depressed scars and controlled acne.
Darker skin: microneedling and RF microneedling are considered safe for all skin tones (AAD); a 2026 meta-analysis found more hyperpigmentation after fractional CO2 laser than after microneedling, and hyperpigmentation is the commonest side effect of TCA CROSS.
Isotretinoin: no fully ablative laser during treatment; microneedling waits at least 1 month after the last dose (AAD); advised waits for RF microneedling or fractional CO2 laser vary, up to 12 months.
Postpone with inflamed acne, infection or cold sores, a recent tan or sunburn, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Not with keloids or poor healing (needling), or a pacemaker or metal implants in the area (RF microneedling).
A scar-like mark or lump that appeared without acne, or that grows, bleeds or does not heal, needs a dermatologist’s diagnosis first; some skin cancers look like scars (AAD).

How the Treatment Works at Veneta

Assessment

A physician identifies each scar type and checks your skin type, active acne, isotretinoin use and keloids.

Numbing

Numbing cream is applied for 30–60 minutes; subcision uses local anaesthetic injections.

Treatment sessions

The physician uses Morpheus8, fractional CO2 laser or Dermapen, alone or with PRP; rolling and ice-pick scars may need subcision or TCA CROSS. Sessions are weeks to months apart.

Aftercare and follow-up

Needling redness usually settles within a week; after fractional CO2 laser, the skin peels for 3–7 days and can stay pink for 3–6 weeks. Avoid sun; use sunscreen daily.

Energy-Based Skin Treatments: Average Prices in Istanbul

Average Istanbul market prices compiled in October 2026, for orientation. Your price is confirmed after your consultation.

Treatment	Unit	Average price	Typical range
Carbon laser peel	per session	2,500 TRY≈ €45	1,500–5,000 TRY≈ €25–€90
IPL (Lumecca) — face	per session	10,000 TRY≈ €180	5,000–15,000 TRY≈ €90–€270
Dermapen microneedling	per session, face	7,000 TRY≈ €125	5,000–10,000 TRY≈ €90–€180
Morpheus8 — face	per session	26,000 TRY≈ €465	20,000–35,000 TRY≈ €360–€625
HIFU — full face	per session	25,000 TRY≈ €450	15,000–35,000 TRY≈ €270–€625
Fractional CO2 laser — full face	per session	25,000 TRY≈ €450	5,000–60,000 TRY≈ €90–€1,075
Stretch mark treatment — one area	per session	15,000 TRY≈ €270	7,500–35,000 TRY≈ €135–€625

Average Istanbul prices compiled in October 2026, for orientation only. Your personal price depends on the product, the amount and the plan agreed at your consultation. Euro amounts are approximate, converted at 55.86 TRY = 1 EUR.

Results and Evidence

Evidence is limited: a 2016 Cochrane review of 24 trials supported no single first-line treatment, with moderate-quality evidence only for an injectable filler. A 2021 systematic review proposed a strong recommendation for RF microneedling, the technique Morpheus8 uses, in acne scars. A 2026 meta-analysis found similar overall improvement with fractional CO2 laser and needling-based treatments such as microneedling; laser had a higher success rate but more hyperpigmentation than microneedling.

Expect improvement, not erasure: a 2025 review found most patients in fractional CO2 studies improved by 30–70%. Results build over 3–6 months; most fillers are temporary, and PRP is an add-on. Deep ice-pick scars may need punch excision, a minor surgical alternative.

Related treatments

Frequently Asked Questions

Which acne scar treatment suits my scar type?

Acne scar treatment follows scar type: subcision or filler for rolling scars, TCA CROSS or punch excision for ice-pick scars, and RF microneedling, fractional CO2 laser or microneedling for boxcar scars; mixed scars usually need combinations.

How many acne scar treatment sessions will I need?

Acne scar treatment usually takes 3–5 microneedling sessions 2–4 weeks apart, 2–5 RF microneedling sessions 4–6 weeks apart, or 1–4 fractional CO2 laser sessions one to six months apart.

How much downtime does acne scar treatment have?

Acne scar treatment downtime ranges from a few days of redness after needling to about a week of peeling after fractional CO2 laser, with pinkness lasting weeks; subcision often bruises.

Is acne scar treatment safe for dark skin?

Acne scar treatment can suit darker skin: the AAD considers microneedling and RF microneedling safe for all skin tones, while a 2026 meta-analysis found more hyperpigmentation after fractional CO2 laser than after microneedling.

Can acne scars be removed completely?

Acne scar treatment improves scars rather than removing them: a 2025 review of fractional CO2 laser studies found most patients improved by 30–70%. New breakouts can cause new scars.

Can I have acne scar treatment while taking isotretinoin?

Isotretinoin affects acne scar treatment timing: a 2017 consensus advises against fully ablative laser and mechanical dermabrasion during it but found insufficient evidence to delay fractional lasers; the AAD advises waiting at least 1 month after the last dose before microneedling. Your physician sets the timing.

This page is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Whether acne scar treatment suits you is decided by our physicians after an assessment.

Free Consultation — Acne Scar Treatment in Istanbul

Send us a WhatsApp message or book a video call; the consultation is free. You receive a written plan with the method, number of sessions and price before treatment.

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