Temple acne scars have always been extremely difficult to treat. Unlike scars on other parts of the face like cheeks, nose and forehead, temples have always seem to give rather dismal results despite the best laser treatments for acne scars like the Pico laser, Edge Fractional CO2 Laser, Erbium laser to radiofrequency treatments like Infini and Secret RF or even subscision methods.
For scars located on the temples, I have derived a brand new method that is proven to improve acne scars in this particular region. This would be done using absorbable PDO threads.
How do acne scars form?
Put simply, acne scars are formed when skin tissue becomes damaged by severe active acne. They are most commonly found on the cheeks and temple region
The inflammatory process causes scar fibers to develop, forming acne scars. In these cases, skin tissue, especially collagen, can become severely damaged, disrupting the protein structures supporting the skin. When the active acne ceases, the damaged collagen structures may not be properly replaced. Instead, thick and fibrous scar tissue can form in its place and attach the skin surface to the subcutaneous layers. This, together with the damaged collagen structures causes the skin to have that distinct pockmarked appearance that is acne scars.
Treating acne scars with thread lifting/meshing
The treatment involves the insertion of special absorbable threads beneath the skin surface, the same threads used in aesthetic procedures like the Hiko Nose Thread Lift and Face Thread Lifts. These are usually made from synthetic fibres like polydioxanone (PDO), Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA)or Polycaprolactone (PCL), specially designed to be absorbable by our bodies. After being inserted into the skin, these threads naturally dissolve over time. stimulating the production of new collagen in the surrounding skin.
Thread meshing works in several aspects. Firstly, the threads are usually inserted into the skin with the help of a thin cannula. While working the threads in the doctor can use the cannula to gently subcise the fibrous scar tissue, dislodging depressed acne scars from the deeper skin layers. Once all the threads are in place, they act as a temporary support to give the skin structure, in place of the damaged collagen tissue. The threads will then decompose in the skin over several weeks or months. This process stimulates collagen production, providing long-term effects by creating new collagen to replace the older, damaged ones.
Results of Acne Scars Thread Meshing
For all patients, the effects are immediately visible with slight improvements in skin texture. The results will continually improve over several weeks, with the best results showing starting about 6 weeks from the treatment. The results are permanent.
Treatment procedure
Before the treatment begins, we will first apply a topical numbing cream for about 20 minutes. A local anaesthetic may also be used here.
The doctor will mark the treatment area with lines to guide the thread insertion. Next, the required number of threads are inserted with a cannula, and subdermal acne scar tissue may also be subcised during this. Finally, the cannulas are removed and the doctor can move on to the next treatment area until all of them are addressed.
Once the threads are in place, the treatment is complete. They will continually stimulate collagen production for the next few months until the have been completely broken down.
How does thread meshing differ from Laser and Radiofrequency treatments?
The most immediate difference between thread meshing and other acne scar treatments is the number of sessions required. For laser and radiofrequency treatments, more than one treatment session is required for optimal results. Thread meshing for acne scars only require treatment session, and the inserted threads will continually improve the skin condition over a couple of months.
However, this does not mean that thread meshing is completely superior. Unlike laser and radiofrequency treatments, the effects of threads are harder to stop or reverse. In the rare case that that any of these treatments cause adverse effects, the doctor can simply stop the laser and radiofrequency sessions and move on to a more suitable treatment. Threads on the other hand, are much more of a hassle, even though they can be removed if absolutely necessary.
In addition, thread meshing has to be applied over a relatively large area because of its nature. Hence, it is most effective for general treatment acne scar patches. Laser and radiofrequency treatment on the other hand are more precise, can specifically target individual, isolated scars if needed.
What is the difference between thread lifts and acne scar meshing?
In traditional face and nose thread lifts, the threads are usually inserted only in one direction. This is because traditional lifting often involves sculpting or “pulling” the facial tissues towards a particular direction for the lifting effect. The threads, hence, need to be inserted in a direction parallel to this lift to provide mechanical support. Also, these threads may have tiny barbs in order to provide more traction for the lift.
When treating acne scars however, the threads are inserted in 2 directions to form a cross-hatched “mesh”, as monodirectional lifting is less important when addressing acne scars. Instead, the main objective here is to provide a scaffold to temporarily replace the collagen support damaged by acne, while stimulating the production of new collagen. A dense mesh pattern in this case directly provides more volume and support, while also giving more surface area to stimulate collagen production.
Final words
While acne scar treatments like Picocare 450 Laser, Edge Fractional CO2 Laser, Infini and Secret RF. are already well established, there are still occasions where they might not be suitable, either because of the location of the scars, other medical conditions or simply individual preference. Hence, it is always good to have alternatives like thread meshing to give patients more options. In my practice, I offer my patients both thread meshing, as well as laser and radiofrequency treatments. If your acne scars are bothering you, feel free to contact me to arrange for a consultation.
FAQ
Is the treatment painful?
a topical numbing cream will be applied before the treatment to minimise any pain and discomfort. If required, a local anaesthetic may also be used.
How long does the treatment take?
Depending on the size and number of treatment areas, the entire session can take between 30 to 60 minutes to complete.
What is the downtime?
There is minimal to no downtime involved. The treated area may feel sore, bruise or flush red, but these will usually subside in a few hours.
Are there any side effects?
Like all thread lifting procedures, acne scar meshing is a very safe procedure with little to no side effects.
