Over time, scars can fade naturally, but they will never fully disappear. According to the Washington University School of Medicine, there is no way to completely remove all traces of scarring, even with treatment. However, it is possible to repair scarred skin enough so that the scar is barely noticeable. Treatment options vary based on the size and depth of the scar.
Step 1
Freeze the scar off with cryotherapy. This treatment is best suited for keloid scars. Typically formed after traumatically injury, a keloid scar results from an excessive collagen production at the scar site, according to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Large keloid scar protrusions can be successfully removed with just one cryotherapy treatment, leaving behind a much smaller scar site.
Step 2
Repair the scar site with collagen injections. Unlike keloid scars, "ice-pick" scars feature deep impressions in the skin. These indented scars can be puffed up and smoothed out with collagen injections, as explained by the Mayo Clinic.
Step 3
Schedule dermabrasion or chemical peel treatments. Both of these treatments remove the topmost layers of scarred skin, according to the University of Chicago Medical Center. Once the skin is removed, healthy skin grows in its place, reducing the appearance of scarring. Dermabrasion and chemical peel treatments are useful for small, superficial scars.
Step 4
Undergo laser therapies for deep scars or heavily discolored scars. CO2 laser therapy uses precisely-focused energy to burn away deep scars, according to the University of Michigan Department of Surgery. Vascular laser treatment shrinks blood vessels, reducing discoloration of scarred skin.
Step 5
Remove the scar surgically. If the scar cannot be repaired using other methods, you can have the scar removed via punch graft. During a punch graft procedure, the scarred skin is cut away and replaced with healthy skin from a different, less visible part of the body. Both surgical sites are sutured together, leaving only a small, barely noticeable surgical scar.
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