Some people with acne develop scars from their pimples, most commonly depressed-type scars that look like pits or saucers in the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the genes you inherited from your parents will determine your susceptibility to acne scarring, along with the severity of your particular acne case. Even if you have bad scars from your acne, you might be able to improve your appearance using a prescription facial filler such as Restylane, which a dermatologist injects into your face to fill depressions left by acne.
Timing
If you still have acne, your dermatologist probably won't recommend treatment for your scars yet, the AAD says. You should get that acne under control first before trying Restylane or any other scar treatment procedure. Bad acne--the cystic type that causes depressed scars to develop--likely will require treatment help from your dermatologist, who may be able to prevent additional scars from forming.
Product
Once your acne has cleared completely, you can consider Restylane or other procedures to treat your scars. Restylane, a stabilized hyaluronic acid gel that's designed to be injected into wrinkles but also can be used for depressed acne scars, provides fullness and volume to the skin, according to Drugs.com. Results are instant but temporary--you'll get about six months of repair, and then will need to have the procedure redone.
Procedure
You'll have the Restylane injection procedure itself in your physician's office or an outpatient clinic. First, your physician will numb the area with an anesthetic. Next, the doctor will inject Restylane directly into the acne scar area you want to raise. A newer formulation of Restylane includes the anesthetic lidocaine as part of the injection formula, which Restylane's manufacturer says decreases discomfort from the procedure significantly.
Side Effects
You may get immediate redness or swelling from Restylane injections, and the product's manufacturer recommends applying a cold cloth to your face after the procedure. Swelling generally dissipates within a day or two. In a study done on filling wrinkles, researchers found Restylane lasts longer than other dermal fillers and less of the product produced better results.
Considerations
Dermatologists offer many procedures, including Restylane injections, to treat depressed acne scars. Combining procedures to physically remove or lessen your scars with facial fillers that plump them up often works better than using one procedure by itself. Your dermatologist may recommend acne scar surgery or laser treatment in addition to Restylane facial filler for your acne scars.
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