Acne scar removal here is a doctor-planned course, not a single machine. Dr Gerard Ee has treated acne scars for sixteen years and more than 2,000 patients, and every plan starts with the scar type: ice pick, boxcar or rolling, and usually a mixture. The full guide to how that decision is made, what each treatment does and what to expect is the acne scar treatment guide. This page is the short version: what is offered, what it costs, and how to book.
Acne and pimple scar removal in Singapore at a glance
Pimple scars and acne scars are the same thing. The indentations left after a pimple heals are acne scars, and they are treated the same way whichever name you use for them.
| Treatments | Fractional CO2 laser, Infini RF and Secret RF microneedling, subcision, TCA CROSS, PDLLA skin booster, PLLA collagen stimulator and Rejuran, combined over a six-month plan, with V Beam and Q-Switch for red and brown acne marks |
| Who does it | Dr Gerard Ee, MBBS (UK), MRCS (Edinburgh), PGDip Practical Dermatology (Cardiff) |
| Sessions | A course, four to six weeks apart, over about six months |
| From | $390 for a single fractional CO2 session; $4,000 for the six-month combination plan |
| Downtime | Recovery depends on the procedures and settings. Redness, swelling or temporary surface changes can follow RF or laser treatment. A combination course may involve different recovery periods at different visits. |
| Darker skin | Treatment is considered after assessing pigment history, skin condition and scar type. Infini is often considered for suitable scars. No device removes all pigment risk. |
For an explanation of the RF component of a scar plan, read RF microneedling in Singapore. It covers Secret RF and Infini, who may benefit, expected recovery and treatment risks.
Which acne scar removal treatment suits which scar type
Every scar-side treatment at my clinic does one of two jobs. The first is texture and depressed scars. The second is the flat red or brown marks that are not scars at all.
Texture and depressed acne scars
- Fractional CO2 laser
- Infini RF microneedling
- Secret RF microneedling
- Subcision
- TCA CROSS
- Laser treatment for acne scars
- Fraxel laser for acne scars
- PDLLA skin booster for acne scars and texture
- PLLA collagen stimulator for depressed acne scars
Acne marks, red (PIE) and brown (PIH)
- V Beam for red acne marks (PIE)
- Q-Switch laser for brown acne marks (PIH)
- Red acne marks (PIE) treatment
- Brown acne marks (PIH) in Asian skin
- Acne marks vs acne scars, which do you have
The scar type decides the first procedure: subcision for the tethered rolling scars, TCA CROSS for the ice pick pits, RF microneedling and fractional CO2 for the boxcar scars and surface texture, and V Beam or Q-Switch for flat marks, which are pigment rather than scar and are not treated with any of the scar procedures. What each type looks like, how each responds and what the trials show is set out in types of acne scars in Singapore.
Acne scar removal treatments compared by scar type, sessions and downtime
| Treatment | Best for | Typical sessions | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subcision | Rolling scars (tethered) | Assessed per scar | Bruising 5 to 7 days, results over 2 to 6 months |
| TCA CROSS | Ice pick scars | 2 to 3 | 5 to 7 days per treatment |
| Fractional CO2 laser | Boxcar scars, surface texture | Part of a rotated course | A few days of redness, swelling and flaking |
| Infini RF microneedling | Boxcar scars, rolling scars after subcision | 3 to 5, four to six weeks apart | About 3 days of mild redness |
| Secret RF microneedling | Boxcar scars, texture | 2 to 4, four to six weeks apart | 3 to 4 days of mild scabbing |
| V Beam / Q-Switch | Flat red (PIE) or brown (PIH) marks, not scars | About 5 to 10 | None |
One modality is used per session and rotated at the next, so different depths are reached over the course.
Most patients present with more than one scar type. One modality is used per session, and the modality is rotated at the next session so that different equipment reaches different depths. The sequence is set out in the acne scar treatment guide, and every price is on the acne scar treatment cost page.
Acne scar removal price in Singapore, per session and per course
| Consultation | $100 |
| Single session, from | $390 for a fractional CO2 session |
| Six-month combination plan | $4,000, bundled |
Package prices, before GST. Individual sessions are charged separately and cost less. Most scars need a course rather than a session, which is why the package figures are the ones that matter. The six-month plan is bundled and costs less than the treatments in it would cost separately. Every treatment is priced individually, per session and per course, on the acne scar treatment cost page.
A single fractional CO2 session at $390 is appropriate for a small area of texture, or as a top-up after a course. Almost everything else is priced as a course, because collagen is rebuilt in rounds four to six weeks apart and each round builds on the remodelling of the last. The six-month combination plan at $4,000 is the figure to compare with other clinics, rather than the per-session price of any one device.
What happens at an acne scar removal appointment
A consultation to map your scars by type and decide the sequence. Photographs are taken. Most plans open with subcision and RF microneedling together, add fractional CO2 about a month later once the skin has settled, and finish with a biostimulator or Rejuran to rebuild and repair. Sessions are spaced four to six weeks apart so each round of collagen matures before the next. Improvement shows over three to six months, and the review at six months compares photographs. Active acne is settled first. Scar treatment on skin that is still breaking out is money spent twice.
Scar mapping and photographs at the first visit
The scars are mapped by type under angled light, which reveals depth that flat lighting conceals. The skin is then stretched to separate tethered rolling scars, which flatten under tension, from boxcar scars, which do not. Photographs are taken under fixed lighting so that the six-month review is made against the same baseline. The consultation is $100 before GST, and what is realistically achievable, over how many sessions and at what cost, is settled at that visit rather than after the first treatment. Active acne is assessed at the same visit. Where acne is still active, acne control comes first, because each new inflamed lesion can leave a new scar while the old ones are being treated.
A typical six-month acne scar removal sequence
In month one, subcision releases the tethered scars. RF microneedling follows at the next visit to remodel the floor once the release has settled. The two can be performed on the same day where the scarring suits it. In month two, fractional CO2 is performed once the skin has settled. In months three to five, further RF or laser rounds follow as the plan sets out, four to six weeks apart. In month six, a collagen biostimulator or Rejuran is used to rebuild volume and repair skin quality, and the course closes with the photographic review.
One modality is used per session and the modality is rotated at the next. Infini, fractional CO2, Secret RF and Pico MLA reach different depths and different layers of the skin, and alternating between them at four to six week intervals stimulates collagen more broadly than repeating one device. Juvelook, or an ECM skin booster such as Re20, CellREDM or Essalia, can be added alongside the rotation to boost collagen growth further.
Recovery and downtime after acne scar removal
Fractional CO2 leaves redness and fine crusting for several days. RF microneedling leaves redness and swelling for two to three days, and subcision leaves bruising for five to seven days. Daily sun protection continues throughout the course, because treated skin pigments more readily while it heals. Deliberate sun exposure is avoided for two weeks after each laser session, and no session is booked in the fortnight before a beach holiday.
Book a consultation
Consultations are by appointment at 50 Raffles Place, #01-01 Singapore Land Tower, a two-minute walk from Raffles Place MRT. Call 6532 2048 or use the enquiry form on the home page. If you would rather read first, start with the acne scar treatment guide, the types of acne scars, or the pages on Secret RF, Infini, subcision and TCA CROSS.
Who performs the treatment
Dr Gerard Ee, MBBS (UK), MRCS (Edinburgh), PGDip Practical Dermatology (Cardiff). He trained and practised in orthopaedic surgery at Singapore General Hospital and the National University Hospital before moving into aesthetic medicine, and is the author of sixteen peer-reviewed papers, thirteen of them indexed in PubMed.
More about the training is on the about page, and the published work is listed on the publications page.
Why people come to this acne scar clinic after a course elsewhere
A substantial share of the people I see have already had treatment. Three patterns account for most of it.
The first is a few sessions of treatments or machines that are not tailored for acne scars. A device that resurfaces skin well is not necessarily a device that lifts a tethered scar, and a course built around the wrong tool improves the texture around the scars while leaving the scars themselves where they were.
The second is compression. Treatments stacked into too few visits do not give collagen the interval it needs to mature between rounds, and an intensive course frequently achieves less than a slower one at a fraction of the outlay.
The third is nothing between the rounds. Energy is delivered, and the skin is then left to repair unsupported until the next session.
If you are bringing a course that disappointed, bring the details of it: which device, what settings if you have them, how many sessions and how far apart. That usually tells me more than the skin does.
What this acne scar clinic will not do
I will not start scar treatment while the acne is still active. A plan that resurfaces scars while new lesions are forming produces work that has to be repeated.
I will not use resurfacing or RF microneedling on a raised scar. Keloid and hypertrophic scars contain too much collagen rather than too little, and the tools that improve depressed scars can make them worse.
I will not tell you the scars can be removed completely. A well-planned course typically improves acne scars by 20 to 30 per cent over six months with energy-based treatment, and more where biostimulators are added. That is a substantial change and it is not erasure.
I will also say when a procedure is not appropriate for the type of scarring in front of me, which sometimes means declining treatment that has been asked for by name.
Acne scar removal clinic at Raffles Place
50 Raffles Place, #01-01 Singapore Land Tower, Singapore 048623. Telephone 6532 2048. Raffles Place MRT is a two-minute walk.
Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm. Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs this treatment at The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore.
Acne scar removal FAQ
How much does acne scar removal cost in Singapore?
From $390 for a single fractional CO2 session, or $4,000 for the bundled six-month plan, before GST. Every treatment is priced individually, per session and per course, on the acne scar treatment cost page.
Can acne scars be removed completely?
No treatment removes a scar completely. A well-planned course typically improves scars by 20 to 30 per cent with energy-based treatment over six months, more when biostimulators are added.
How many sessions are needed?
A course of several sessions four to six weeks apart over about six months. The number depends on scar type and severity and is set at the consultation.
Is it safe for darker skin?
Many patients with darker skin can be treated, but the plan needs to account for previous pigment changes, current inflammation, scar type and recovery. I often consider insulated Infini for suitable scars. Neither insulation nor lower settings guarantees safety for everyone.
Is pimple scar removal the same as acne scar removal?
Yes. Pimple scars and acne scars are the same thing: the ice pick, boxcar and rolling scars left behind after an acne spot heals with damage to the dermis. Pimple scar removal in Singapore uses the treatments priced on this page, chosen by scar type.
Which acne scar removal treatment is best?
No single treatment is best, because the three scar types call for three different procedures, namely subcision for rolling scars, TCA CROSS for ice pick scars, and RF microneedling or fractional CO2 for boxcar scars and texture. For a face with mixed scars, the most effective plan combines them over about six months.
Is it worth seeing a doctor for acne scars?
It is worth it where the scars have changed the texture of the skin, because a true scar does not fade on its own and topical treatment does not reach it. It is not worth it for flat red or brown marks left after a breakout, which are pigment rather than scar and usually settle over weeks to months. The quickest way to tell them apart is to stretch the skin: a mark disappears, a scar does not.
Can a doctor fix acne scarring?
Acne scarring is improved rather than fixed. Rolling scars respond best once the tethering band beneath them is released, boxcar scars respond well to resurfacing and RF microneedling, and ice pick scars resist lasers but respond to TCA CROSS applied pit by pit. Most faces carry a mixture and need a combination over about six months. Raised scars are a different problem and need a different approach.
Chat with me any time
Wondering which treatment suits your acne scars, or how many sessions you might need? Ask my AI Acne Care Advisor, day or night. It is a quick, friendly way to get your questions answered before we meet.
Book a consultation with Dr Gerard Ee at The Clifford Clinic
Dr Gerard Ee consults and performs acne scar removal at The Clifford Clinic, 50 Raffles Place, Singapore. Consultations are by appointment. Message the clinic on WhatsApp, or call 6532 2048.
This page is written from published research and from clinical experience in Singapore since 2012. It is for general education, not medical advice. Whether a treatment suits you, what it may achieve and what it may risk can only be established at a consultation. Dr Gerard Ee is the Medical Director of The Clifford Clinic, a private clinic in Singapore, and treatments discussed on this site are provided commercially.
