Scar Revision in NYC: A Precise, Personalized Approach
Improve the appearance of scars with personalized care from Dr. Julia Tzu, a triple board-certified cosmetic and surgical dermatologist in Manhattan. At Wall Street Dermatology, Dr. Tzu combines cosmetic expertise with reconstructive surgical training to help scars blend more naturally with the surrounding skin.
Dr. Julia Tzu is a triple board-certified dermatologic surgeon with 20 years of experience. Her distinctive approach to surgical aesthetic artistry is grounded in advanced fellowship training in Mohs and reconstructive skin surgery and cosmetic dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, complemented by fellowship training in dermatopathology at NYU.
Trained at
- Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa, Highest Honors)
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (MD)
- Fellowship in Procedural Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania
- Fellowship in Dermatopathology, NYU Langone Medical Center
- Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, NYU
- 10,000+scars treated
- 1000+five-star reviews across Google, Zocdoc, and Yelp
- Castle Connolly Top Doctorsince 2015
Before & After Results
Scar-treatment results from Dr. Tzu's practice, with the procedure and healing interval for each case.
Interested in scar revision? Our team is here to help.
Dr. Tzu's Approach
"The majority of my work on a daily basis deals with minimizing scarring when performing a surgery or other invasive skin procedure. Understanding the fundamentals of scarring allows me to minimize scar creation and perform procedures to treat the appearance of existing scars."
– Dr. Julia Tzu, MD, FAAD, FACMS
Dr. Julia Tzu combines cosmetic dermatology with advanced training in skin surgery and reconstruction. Her procedural dermatology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania included Mohs surgery, reconstructive skin surgery, and cosmetic dermatology. Her board certifications are in dermatology, dermatopathology, and Mohs micrographic dermatologic surgery. That surgical background allows her to address scars that need more than a change in surface texture. While she routinely performs noninvasive treatments such as lasers and microneedling for superficially based scars, for deeper scars she also evaluates whether carefully planned surgical revision, subcision (release of deeply tethered scar tissue), or a combination of treatments offers the best approach for your cosmetic goals.
- Dr. Tzu breaks a scar down into its individual components – color, texture, depth, firmness, and contour – and targets each one, rather than treating the scar as a single problem with a single fix
- She offers both noninvasive treatments (pulsed dye laser, microneedling, and injections) and surgical revision or subcision, so your plan is not limited to the surface of the scar
- She weighs the scar's context – your skin type, skin laxity, the location, and how much movement and pressure the area receives – before recommending a treatment
- She personally performs every procedure at Wall Street Dermatology in Manhattan's Financial District
- She will recommend no treatment at all when the risk of a procedure outweighs leaving the scar as it is
What Is Scar Revision?
Scar revision uses surgical or nonsurgical techniques to improve a scar's contour, texture, or color. Dr. Tzu carefully evaluates your scar and skin type, along with your cosmetic goals, before recommending the most appropriate treatment.
Dr. Tzu personally performs every procedure at Wall Street Dermatology in Manhattan's Financial District. Treatment options are designed to target various visual aspects of a scar, and include surgical scar revision, subcision with or without filler, microneedling, pulsed dye laser treatment, and injections for raised scars. For a scar with more than one feature, such as both indentation and redness, treatments may be combined.
Timing depends on the scar and the procedure being considered. Some scars benefit from early treatment: pulsed dye laser, for example, can improve a scar's long-term outcome when it is used at an early stage. Other scars need further healing before any procedure makes sense. At the consultation, Dr. Tzu assesses the scar's age, healing progress, and symptoms and explains whether it is time for treatment or whether waiting is the better choice.
Scar treatment at Wall Street Dermatology is performed for cosmetic concerns. Scars from acne, surgery, injuries, and chickenpox can all be treated, whether raised, indented, or discolored. Treatment cannot erase a scar completely, and scars are likely to need more than one procedure, but the goal is a less noticeable scar that blends more naturally with your skin.
At a Glance
| Performed by | Dr. Julia Tzu, a triple board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Wall Street Dermatology in Manhattan's Financial District, who personally performs every procedure |
|---|---|
| Treatments offered | Surgical scar revision, subcision with or without filler, microneedling, pulsed dye laser treatment, and injections for raised scars, sometimes combined in one plan |
| Scars treated | Scars from acne, surgery, injuries, and chickenpox – raised, indented, or discolored |
| Visit type | Cosmetic consultation; scar treatment at Wall Street Dermatology is performed for cosmetic concerns and is self-pay |
How Is Scar Revision Performed?
Scar revision begins with a consultation to assess the scar's origin, location, shape, texture, contour, and color. Dr. Tzu reviews how your skin has healed and any treatments you have already tried. Your skin color and quality, history of raised scars, and available recovery time also help her develop a personalized treatment plan.
For a scar with both indentation and redness, Dr. Tzu may combine treatments to address each concern. She explains why each procedure is recommended and the improvement you can reasonably expect.
How Dr. Tzu Chooses a Treatment
Most people see a scar as one problem with one fix. Dr. Tzu breaks a scar down into its individual components and tailors treatment to each. Superficial features such as color and texture usually call for different tools than the deeper, three-dimensional features of depth, firmness, and contour, so the plan may combine more than one modality. The scar's context matters too: your skin type, skin laxity, the location, and how much movement and pressure that area receives. This is why single-treatment approaches often fall short of what patients expect, and why scar treatment cannot be applied as a template.
When several options could work, Dr. Tzu weighs each procedure's risks against its likely benefit, along with total cost, time involved, and the limits of each treatment, and listens to your circumstances and preferences before making a recommendation. Occasionally the recommendation is no treatment at all, when a procedure is more likely to cause harm than leaving the scar untreated.
One example from the gallery above is a forehead scar left by cosmetic mole removal at an outside plastic surgeon's office. Noninvasive options were discussed, microneedling for the white discoloration and subcision for the tethered, inverted contour, but a series of those treatments would have taken longer and still delivered less improvement than surgery. Dr. Tzu recommended surgical scar revision because it addresses every visible aspect of the scar in one efficient step. Noninvasive procedures such as laser, microneedling, or subcision are sometimes needed after surgical revision; in this case none was required at the four-month follow-up.
Surgical Scar Revision
- Removes or repositions selected scar tissue to improve the scar's color, texture, shape, contour, or placement
- Useful when the scar has multiple physical features that cannot be effectively or efficiently addressed by multiple noninvasive procedures
- The area is carefully closed and allowed to heal, with wound care tailored to the procedure
- Dr. Tzu often pretreats highly dynamic areas of the face with botulinum toxin before scar revision, to reduce the risk of scarring and maximize collagen production while the revised scar heals
Subcision With or Without Filler
- Releases bands of tissue beneath a depressed scar to help raise the inversion and allow the surface to sit more evenly
- Dr. Tzu examines the scar for tethering or inversion to determine whether subcision is appropriate
- Hyaluronic acid filler may be used alongside subcision as part of an individualized plan. The choice of filler depends on your risk factors
- Explore acne scar subcision
Microneedling
- Uses fine needles to create controlled punctures in the skin and stimulate collagen production
- Helps improve scar texture and color and can complement other scar treatments
- Treatment often involves a series of sessions, depending on the scar and its response
- Dr. Tzu uses microneedling aggressively to retexturize scar tissue, and prefers it over fractional lasers, which rely on thermal injury, because it carries a lower risk of hyperpigmentation in skin that pigments easily
Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment
- Targets redness in selected scars to help the color blend more evenly with surrounding skin, and can also mildly boost collagen production
- Dr. Tzu considers your skin tone and the scar's features before recommending laser treatment
- Early treatment with pulsed dye laser can improve a scar's long-term outcome and is often part of the treatment plan for an early-stage scar
Injections for Raised Scars
- Places medication directly into raised scar tissue to help flatten and soften it
- The treatment plan depends on the scar's behavior and response to previous care
- Kenalog (triamcinolone) injections are not one-size-fits-all. The concentration, the volume, where along the scar each injection is placed, and the timing of serial injections all shape the result. Dr. Tzu often varies the concentration and volume across different areas of one scar, and from session to session as the scar changes. This is the reason why Dr. Tzu often succeeds with scars that did not respond to Kenalog injections performed elsewhere
- This individualized technique lets her avoid adding 5-fluorouracil injections and the extra side effects they carry
- Botulinum toxin injections can also be used alongside other treatments to help remodel scar tissue
- Raised scars and keloids often require repeat treatments and follow-up
Types of Scars We Treat
At Wall Street Dermatology, Dr. Tzu treats scars from acne, surgery, injuries, and chickenpox. These scars may be raised, indented, or discolored. Each scar's individual features and your healing history guide the choice of treatment best suited to your skin. Each page below covers one scar type in more detail.
- Acne scars
- Boxcar, ice-pick, and rolling scars left by acne, often treated with a combination of subcision, microneedling, and surgical revision.
- Atrophic scars
- Indented scars where volume was lost, evaluated for tethering and contour before treatment.
- Post-surgery scars
- Scars from prior surgery, including scars from procedures performed elsewhere.
- Traumatic scars
- Scars from cuts, falls, and other injuries.
- Chickenpox scars
- Small, round indented scars left by chickenpox.
Recovery & Aftercare
- Your recovery plan is tailored to the procedure and the area treated. Dr. Tzu will explain the downtime for your treatment and when to resume work, exercise, skincare, and makeup
- Surgical scar revision: swelling, bruising, or mild discomfort may occur during the first 1 to 2 weeks. When stitches are used, removal is generally planned within 6 to 14 days, depending on the location and healing progress. No exercise for two weeks after surgery
- A surgically revised scar continues to settle as it matures, sometimes within 6 months and sometimes over more than a year. Dr. Tzu typically sees surgical patients for a follow-up around six months after the procedure
- Subcision: bruising lasts about two weeks on average. No exercise for 5 to 7 days, which shortens the bruising. Results appear over 1 to 3 months, and sessions can be repeated every 2 to 4 months
- Microneedling: the skin can look sunburned for 4 to 7 days. No exercise for 72 hours. Results appear at about one month, with sessions spaced monthly
- Pulsed dye laser: downtime depends on the settings used. Non-bruising settings leave 2 to 3 days of redness; bruising settings leave about two weeks of bruising. Plan on five days without exercise. Results appear at about one month, and treatment can be repeated monthly until the endpoint is reached
- Injections for raised scars: no exercise for 24 hours. Results appear at about one month, and injections can be repeated monthly until the endpoint is reached
- Bruising varies widely between people. After pulsed dye laser or subcision, some patients bruise for a week and others for a month, depending on individual susceptibility, supplements and diet, medications, temperature, and activity level
- Healing is fastest on the face and slows further down the body; the feet heal most slowly
- Makeup can generally be worn once the skin has fully healed over and appears normal, with no open wounds, inflammation, or swelling. Return-to-work timing depends on the job and where the treated scar is
- Initial wound healing is different from the final cosmetic result. Dr. Tzu will provide aftercare instructions and discuss follow-up so you know when to assess your progress
What Results Can I Expect From Scar Revision?
Scar revision can improve a scar's appearance by addressing uneven texture, raised or depressed tissue, or discoloration. The goal is a less noticeable scar that blends more naturally with your skin. Treatment cannot erase a scar completely, and scars are likely to need more than one procedure.
Before treatment, Dr. Tzu will discuss the expected benefit and risks for your skin. These can include infection, bleeding and bruising, pigment changes, delayed healing, or a more noticeable scar. Your history of keloids, poor healing, or certain medication usage may affect the plan. That conversation also covers when allowing more time to heal or avoiding another procedure is the better choice.
Scar Revision Cost in NYC
Scar treatment generally costs $650 to $3,000 per session, depending on the type of procedure. Surgical scar revision can cost substantially more, as can treating multiple scars or scars that cover a large surface area. Your cost depends on the scar's size and location, the complexity of the procedure, and the number of sessions needed. At your consultation, Dr. Tzu will assess the scar and discuss your treatment plan and expected total cost.
Dr. Tzu treats scars for cosmetic concerns only. Scar treatment for functional concerns, such as pain or restricted movement, is a different purpose and is outside the scope of the practice.
Does insurance cover scar revision?
At Wall Street Dermatology, scar treatments are performed for cosmetic purposes, so scar revision is a self-pay procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a scar be removed completely?
Is surgery or laser treatment better for scars?
When should I have a scar evaluated?
Can an old scar still be treated?
Can you treat a scar that did not improve with another procedure?
How many scar treatment sessions will I need?
Schedule Your Scar Revision Consultation
Interested in making a scar less noticeable? Schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Julia Tzu at Wall Street Dermatology. Dr. Tzu will evaluate your scar, talk through your goals, and recommend a personalized approach, with clear guidance on recovery and expected results.