Priorities
Acne scarring and texture
Pitted or raised scars and uneven texture left after acne, treated according to your scar type and skin tone.
Treatments from $347
The short version
Acne scars can remain for years after breakouts have cleared, leaving pitted or uneven texture that foundation tends to settle into. Serums rarely make a noticeable difference, because they work on the surface and scars sit underneath it.
Rebuilding collagen under a scar takes microneedling, with or without radiofrequency. The right choice depends on your scar type, your skin tone, and how much downtime you can plan for per session.
Why it happens
Why a breakout can leave a scar
Deep breakouts inflame the skin around them and damage its collagen. As the skin heals, it doesn't always rebuild that collagen evenly, and the surface settles into a dip. The more inflamed the breakout, the more likely it is to scar.
Deep inflammation does the damage
Cysts and nodules carry the most inflammation, which is why they're the breakouts most likely to leave a mark.
Collagen rebuilds unevenly
Too little new collagen leaves a depression. Too much leaves a raised scar, which is more common on darker skin.
Picking adds to it
Squeezing or picking a breakout increases inflammation. A tendency to scar also runs in families.
Your options
How we'd approach it
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Step 1We'd start with
Microneedling with PRP
From $499
About Microneedling with PRPFor shallow, rolling scars on any skin tone, we'd suggest microneedling with PRP: three to six sessions, four weeks apart, with our medical esthetician. We draw a small amount of blood, spin it to concentrate the platelets, treat the skin with the microneedling pen, and apply your platelets into the channels. Expect pinkness for 24 to 48 hours.
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Step 2If you need a little more
Morpheus8
From $1,200
About Morpheus8For deeper, sharp-edged scars, or scars along with loosened skin, Morpheus8 is the next step. It delivers radiofrequency through the needles up to 4 mm deep over three sessions, with 2 to 5 days of redness after each, and we'll review your results three months after the final session.
Side by side
Your options side by side
Here's how the treatments we use for acne scars compare. Most people start with microneedling with PRP.
We'd start with
Microneedling with PRP
From $499
- Best for
- Shallow, rolling scars, on every skin tone
- Appointment
- 60 to 75 minutes including the draw and numbing
- Downtime
- Pink for 24 to 48 hours, light flaking by day 3 to 5
- First results
- Brightness in a week, texture in a few weeks
- Sessions
- 3 to 6, spaced 4 weeks apart
If you need a little more
Morpheus8
From $1,200
- Best for
- Deeper, sharp-edged scars and loosened skin
- Appointment
- 60 to 90 minutes for the face, more with the neck, numbing included
- Downtime
- 2 to 5 days of redness, grid marks, and fine scabs
- First results
- Some tightening in the first few weeks
- Sessions
- 1 to 3, spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart
Microneedling
From $347
- Best for
- Mild, shallow scarring on a smaller budget
- Appointment
- 45 to 60 minutes including numbing
- Downtime
- Pink for 24 to 48 hours, dry and tight for 2 to 3 days
- First results
- Hydration and glow within days
- Sessions
- 1 for glow, 3 to 6 for lines and marks, 4 weeks apart
Prices are starting prices from our menu. Your provider will confirm the plan and total cost at your consult. Individual results vary.
What to expect
Your first few months with microneedling with PRP
Your skin looks brighter within a week. The change in scarring builds across the series and keeps improving for about three months after the last session.
Day 0
Red, warm, and tight. The PRP stays on.
Day 1
Pink with mild swelling. No makeup yet.
Day 2
Even pink. Tinted SPF and makeup are fine.
Days 3 to 5
Light flaking. Your skin looks normal to anyone else.
Week 4
Next session. Brighter and smoother, though scars may look unchanged so far, which is normal.
Month 3 after the last session
Time to look at your scars and pigment together, now that collagen has matured.
Every 6 to 12 months
One maintenance session, plus daily SPF for melasma.
Timeline for microneedling with PRP, from our treatment page. Individual results vary.
Our reasoning
Matching treatment to your scar type
First, we’ll pull the skin taut to see how your scars change. Rolling scars, the wavy kind, disappear under tension and respond best. Boxcar scars keep their sharp edges and still respond well. Ice-pick scars, narrow and deep, don’t move under tension and respond very little to any needling. Most people have a mix of all three, so we’ll build your plan around the type that’s most prominent.
Microneedling with PRP is where most people start. A 2024 network meta-analysis of 24 randomized trials and 1,546 patients found every microneedling combination outperformed plain microneedling for acne scars, with microneedling plus a chemical peel ranked first and no extra side effects, per Archives of Dermatological Research. No heat means no pigment risk, which is especially important for skin types IV to VI. A VI Peel between sessions takes care of the brown marks and adds to your scar result.
Morpheus8 is the step up. It’s FDA-cleared for contraction of soft tissue and brings more change per session, along with more cost, more downtime, and the radiofrequency-specific risks the FDA flagged in its October 2025 safety communication. To keep things safe, we go gently over thin skin and save it for the scars that need the extra power. Individual results vary.
Your questions, answered
What will my skin look like the day after?
After microneedling with PRP, expect pink, mildly swollen skin on day 1, an even pink that tinted sunscreen covers on day 2, and light flaking on days 3 to 5, though your skin looks normal to anyone else. After Morpheus8, allow two or three days for redness to settle before an important event. Skip makeup for 24 hours after microneedling and until the surface has closed after Morpheus8, and avoid heavy sweating for 48 hours after either.
Is the radiofrequency worth the extra cost for scars?
For shallow rolling scars on skin that hasn't loosened, it isn't. It is worth it for deep boxcar scars, for scars with laxity, or after a PRP series that has plateaued. Our RF microneedling vs microneedling guide breaks down the numbers by scar type.
Which months should the series run?
October through April works well. Each session needs two weeks of strict sun avoidance afterward, which is easier to manage in fall and winter, when sun exposure is lower. If you start in October and finish by March, your three-month result will be visible by early summer.
Do acne scars fade on their own?
Flat red or brown marks often fade over several months. Pitted scars usually don't, because the collagen beneath them is missing. Those need a treatment that helps rebuild it, like microneedling.
Can I treat scars while I still get breakouts?
It's best to settle active breakouts first. We don't needle over active acne, and new breakouts can leave new marks. Our acne and breakouts page covers where to start.
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