Refine texture. Normalise colour. Help scars blend naturally.

Scars are an unavoidable part of skin healing after surgery, injury, or inflammation. While many scars settle well, others remain visible — appearing uneven, stiff, discoloured, or texturally different from the surrounding skin, even when they are not raised, thickened, or acne-related.

At The Skin Doctor, we provide doctor-led general scar treatment in Melbourne, with a focus on helping scars heal and remodel as favourably as possible. Our approach is evidence-based, realistic, and individualised, combining modern laser techniques with proven non-laser strategies that support optimal scar maturation.

If a scar is bothering you — cosmetically or functionally — meaningful improvement is often possible.

Book a Scar Consultation (automed 20-minute appointment with Dr Chris – Ivanhoe or Diamond Creek)

What Do We Mean by “General” Scars?

This page refers to non-hypertrophic, non-keloid, non-acne scars, including:

• Flat surgical scars
• Linear scars following skin cancer surgery or biopsies
• Traumatic scars from cuts or injuries
• Scars from burns or abrasions
• Scars after benign lesion removal
• Scars with persistent redness, pigment change, or surface irregularity

These scars are usually flat or slightly indented, but may still be noticeable, draw the eye, or heal in a way that feels tight or uneven.

For raised or expanding scars, see Hypertrophic & Keloid Scar Treatment
For acne-related scarring, see Acne Scarring Treatments

Why Some Scars Don’t Settle on Their Own

Scar appearance is influenced by far more than the size of the original wound. Key factors include:

• Location (face, chest, shoulders, limbs)
• Tension and movement across the wound
• Depth of injury or surgery
• Skin type and pigmentation
• Sun exposure during healing
• Early wound and scar care

Crucially, scars are biologically active for 12–24 months. During this time, collagen is continuously broken down and re-laid. This long remodelling phase explains why scars can still improve — or worsen — well after the skin has healed.

Large clinical reviews show that early optimisation and appropriately timed intervention lead to better long-term scar quality compared with a “wait and see” approach.
(Kent et al., Dermatol Surg. 2019)

Early Scar Optimisation: What You Can Do Yourself

Good scar outcomes are not accidental. What happens in the first weeks and months after healing has a major impact on the final result.

1. Reduce Stretch and Over-Use

Once the wound has healed, ongoing stretch across the scar encourages collagen to lay down in a less organised way, making scars wider or more visible.

Where practical:

• Limit heavy or repetitive use of the affected area for 3–6 months
• Avoid unnecessary strain or tension across the scar
• Gentle movement is fine — excessive or repetitive strain is not

This does not mean immobilisation, but rather being mindful that less stretch equals a better long-term scar.

2. Prolonged Scar Support With Taping (Highly Recommended)

One of the simplest and most effective non-laser strategies is prolonged taping of the scar once sutures are removed.

After surgery, our nurses will show you how to support the healing scar using a breathable adhesive dressing such as Mefix®.

How this helps:
Every time you move, the dressing absorbs part of the stretch — instead of the scar absorbing it. Over weeks, this significantly reduces scar widening and irregularity.

How to do it:

• Apply the tape lengthwise along the scar, with gentle support but no tension
• Leave it in place for 5–7 days, depending on activity level
• The dressing can get wet — shower as normal, then pat dry
• To remove, soak with a little olive oil or remove gently in the shower
• Dry the skin and re-apply a fresh dressing

We usually recommend continuing taping for 6–12 weeks, and in higher-tension areas, sometimes longer.
The longer the scar is supported, the better the cosmetic outcome.

This approach is strongly supported in surgical and dermatologic literature and is standard practice in optimised scar care.
(Balaraman et al., Dermatol Surg. 2015)

3. Sun Protection Is Essential

UV exposure during scar healing significantly increases the risk of:

• Persistent redness
• Darkening (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
• Prolonged visibility

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and physical sun protection are essential for at least 6–12 months after injury or surgery.

In-Clinic Treatment Options for General Scars

When scars remain visible despite good care — or when faster or greater improvement is desired — in-clinic treatments can help guide the remodelling process.

Laser Treatment for Scars (Primary Modality)

Laser therapy is one of the most effective tools for improving texture, contour, stiffness, and colour mismatch in flat or indented scars.

Extensive clinical literature shows that modern laser treatments can improve:

• Scar thickness and stiffness
• Surface texture
• Colour mismatch
• Overall blending with surrounding skin
  (PubMed: Balaraman et al., Dermatol Surg. 2015)

At The Skin Doctor, we primarily use Er:YAG laser technology, selected for its precision and predictable healing profile.

Ablative Er:YAG Laser – Surface Refinement

Ablative Er:YAG laser removes extremely thin layers of skin with high precision. It is used to gently level uneven or sharply defined scar tissue.

This is most helpful when a scar is:

• Slightly raised or irregular
• Clearly demarcated from surrounding skin
• Thickened but not hypertrophic or keloid

Because Er:YAG laser energy is absorbed strongly by water, it allows controlled tissue removal with minimal heat spread, reducing the risk of delayed healing or pigment change compared with older CO₂ lasers.
(PubMed: Balaraman et al., Dermatol Surg. 2015)

Downtime depends on depth and location and is discussed clearly before treatment.

Book a Scar Laser Assessment

Fractional Er:YAG Laser – Collagen Remodelling

Many flat or indented scars are caused not by surface height, but by disorganised collagen within the dermis.

Fractional Er:YAG laser creates microscopic treatment zones within the scar while leaving surrounding skin intact. This stimulates fibroblasts to reorganise collagen into a more functional, flexible structure.

Clinical studies show fractional laser treatment can:

• Improve scar texture and pliability
• Reduce stiffness and tethering
• Decrease visual prominence of indented scars
• Improve how light reflects off the skin
  (PubMed: Xu et al., J Innov Med Res. 2024)

Improvement is gradual and cumulative, which is why treatments are usually staged.

Book a Fractional Scar Laser Consultation(automed – ivanhoe 20 minutes with Chris, 20 minutes with dermal)

Why Scar Treatment Is Usually Performed as a Series

Scar remodelling is slow. Collagen turnover occurs over weeks to months.

Evidence consistently shows that multiple conservative treatments spaced over time produce better outcomes and fewer complications than aggressive single treatments.
(Balaraman et al., Dermatol Surg. 2015)

Our approach prioritises:

• Safety
• Predictable healing
• Durable, natural-looking improvement

What Scar Treatment Can — and Cannot — Do

Scar treatment aims to:

• Improve texture and smoothness
• Normalise colour
• Reduce stiffness or tightness
• Make scars less noticeable in everyday life

It is important to understand:

• Scars cannot be completely erased
• Improvement is meaningful but not absolute
• Results develop over months, not days

This aligns with outcomes reported across large clinical reviews of laser-based scar revision.
(PubMed: Balaraman et al., Dermatol Surg. 2015)

Individualised Scar Treatment in Melbourne

At The Skin Doctor, scar treatment plans are tailored based on:

• Scar type and maturity
• Skin type and pigmentation risk
• Location and functional impact
• Downtime tolerance and goals

We aim to use the least invasive approach capable of producing meaningful, lasting improvement.

When to Seek Scar Assessment

You may benefit from a scar consultation if:

• A scar remains noticeable months after healing
• There is persistent redness, texture or colour mismatch
• A scar feels tight or uncomfortable
• You are planning surgery and want to optimise scarring

Earlier assessment often leads to better outcomes.

Book a Scar Consultation

If you have a non-hypertrophic, non-keloid scar and would like expert guidance:

Book a Scar Consultation
Learn more about our approach: About Us
Explore related care: Scarring Treatments

References

• Balaraman B, Geddes ER, Friedman PM. Improving the Final Scar: Evidence-Based Laser and Multimodal Scar Revision. Dermatol Surg. 2015.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26479270/
• Kent RA et al. Effectiveness of Early Laser Treatment in Surgical Scar Minimization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Dermatol Surg. 2019.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30789402/
• Xu C. Technological Innovations in Scar Revision and Skin Improvement. J Innov Med Res. 2024.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38217871/