Acne scar treatment in Islamabad with Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas identifies the type of each scar on your face, then combines the methods that lift, fill or resurface them, because no single treatment suits every scar.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas, MBBS, FCPS (Plastic Surgery). Last updated October 2026.
Acne scars are lasting texture changes left when deep inflamed spots damage collagen. About 80 to 90% are atrophic, meaning sunken pits, while a smaller number are raised.
They differ from the flat brown marks acne leaves, which are pigment and fade with time. This page covers true scars, not active acne.
Sunken scars come from lost collagen, so creams and time cannot fill them. They often look deeper with age as skin thins.
Pitted skin catches light and shadow, and makeup settles into scars. Some people start avoiding photos or bright light because of them.
Squeezing pimples pushes inflammation deeper and turns marks into pits. Treating scars early stops them setting harder.
Fibrous bands pull some scars down from below. These need the band released, which only a procedure can do.
Narrow, deep pits under 2 mm wide. TCA CROSS places strong acid deep inside each pit to rebuild it.
Wide, wavy dips of 5 mm or more. Subcision uses a needle to release the bands pulling skin down.
Round or oval pits with sharp edges. Fractional laser or microneedling smooths their edges and floor.
Firm bumps above the skin, often on the jaw or chest. Steroid injections flatten them gradually.
Most people see a clear improvement, not complete removal. In one study of fractional CO2 laser, 62% of Asian patients rated their scars at least 50% better at 6 months. Photos below are shared with consent.
Dr. Umbreen examines your skin under side lighting, marks each scar type and checks that active acne is controlled before any procedure.
Brown skin is primed with sunscreen and a gentle pigment cream. Isotretinoin is stopped for a period first, as advised.
With the skin numbed, deep scars are treated first with subcision or TCA CROSS, then the surface is smoothed with laser or needling.
Sessions are spaced several weeks apart so collagen can form. Photos are compared at each visit to guide the next step.
| Time After Treatment | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Same day | Redness, swelling and pinpoint bleeding. |
| 24 to 48 hours | Bruising after subcision may appear. |
| Week 1 | Small crusts heal and redness fades to pink. |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | Bruising clears. Scars look softer. |
| Months 3 to 6 | Collagen keeps building and scars lift further. |
Do not pick crusts, and use strict sun protection, because healing skin darkens easily in strong sun.
Most side effects settle within weeks. In brown skin, temporary darkening is the most common problem, which is why skin is primed and settings are careful.
No method returns skin to how it was before acne. Very deep scars may need minor surgery, and new acne must be controlled to avoid new scars.
Your fee is confirmed after scar mapping, once the methods and sessions are agreed. Ask for one written estimate for the full course.
| Factor | How It Affects Your Fee |
|---|---|
| Scar types | Mixed scars need more than one method. |
| Severity | Deep, widespread scars need more sessions. |
| Methods | Laser costs more per session than needling. |
| Skin priming | Creams and sunscreen are extra. |
Packages for acne scar removal in a fixed number of sessions rarely fit real scars, so ask for a plan built on your scar types.
Micro-needling and skin peeling are among her listed services, and scar repair is central to her burns and reconstructive work. She can combine needle, acid and surgical methods in one plan.
Microneedling makes tiny needle channels to trigger collagen, while fractional laser uses heat to remove tiny columns of scarred skin.
| Feature | Microneedling | Fractional Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Suited to | Shallow rolling and boxcar scars | Boxcar scars and rough texture |
| Downtime | A day or two of redness | About a week of crusting |
| Risk in brown skin | Lower | Higher, needs priming |
| Change per session | Gradual | Stronger |
| Cost per session | Lower | Higher |
Adding your own platelets to microneedling improved results in a meta-analysis of 472 patients, giving brown skin a gentler option before laser.
Dr. Umbreen sees patients privately at Omer Diagnostic & Specialist Clinics (ODC), 12-A, LG Floor, CBC Plaza, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Monday to Friday, 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Bring a list of acne medicines you take or have taken, especially isotretinoin, and come without makeup.
Choose a doctor who maps each scar type and offers more than one method, including subcision and TCA CROSS. A clinic offering only one machine for every scar is a warning sign.
Numbing cream or local anesthetic is used for every method. Subcision and laser feel like pressure and heat, and the face is sore for a few days.
Yes, once new collagen has rebuilt the scar, the improvement lasts. Natural ageing can deepen scars slightly over many years, so occasional maintenance sessions may help.
Active acne should be controlled first, as procedures can spread infection and new spots create new scars. Mild acne can sometimes be treated alongside the scars.
Yes, for some wide rolling scars. Filler lifts the dip right away, though it lasts months, so it often works alongside subcision rather than alone.
Most people need several sessions spaced weeks apart. Mixed or deep scarring takes longer, and the plan is reviewed after each session based on your photos.
Patient guides on skin treatments from Dr. Umbreen’s blog.
A vampire facial is a cosmetic procedure that combines microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your own blood to rejuvenate the skin. The treatment works by creating controlled micro-injuries to stimulate collagen production while infusing growth factors from your
Chemical peels are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments for achieving youthful, radiant skin, but many people wonder about the recovery timeline before scheduling an appointment. The downtime after a chemical peel typically ranges from a few days to
Chemical peels are professional skincare treatments that use chemical solutions to remove damaged outer layers of skin, revealing fresher, smoother skin underneath. These treatments range from superficial to deep and can address various skin concerns including acne scars, fine lines,
