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Pacific Palisades Laser Scar Removal and Plastic Surgery

Scar Removal in Santa Monica and Los Angeles

Skin injury from cuts, scrapes, falls, and lacerations can leave scars that are permanent. Some aspects of a scar can improve with time, but contour and texture may be present in the long term. Our office specializes in the management of new and old scars in our Santa Monica plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology center. We use a combination of topical medications, scar modulation protocols, dermal fillers, lasers, and RF to help improve the following:

  • Hypertrophic scars
  • Keloid scars
  • Acne scars
  • Indented scars
  • Surgical scars
  • Wide and Thickened scars
  • Burn scars
  • Red scars (Vbeam laser)
  • Hyperpigmented scars


Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars

Hypertrophic keloid scars can occur after surgery or skin trauma and can dramatically affect the healing process of normal wounds. The treatment of hypertrophic scars begins with early diagnosis and management of the wound healing process for the first 10 to 12 weeks after skin injury or surgery. It is important to use scar modulation techniques recommended by plastic surgeons to reduce scar growth. The management of scar modulation techniques canl enhance proper healing of a skin incision.
 
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian is a double board-certified plastic surgeon and an expert in the management of surgical scars that are early in development or at a late stage of formation. Our plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology center is located on Montana Avenue in Santa monica and services the greater Los Angeles areas. The scar focuses on scar formation and maintenance therapy for pre-existing scars so that the wound does not overgrow and become hypertrophic. Some of the lasers used for active scars include the following:
 
Fractional Erbium Laser is a non-ablative option that can improve the texture of a scar, reduce scar bulk, and even out skin pigmentation resulting from overactive scar growth. These laser treatments are performed in the acute stage after scar formation and as maintenance therapy once a scar has formed.
 
In our Santa Monica plastic surgery office, we also offer Vbeam pulsed dye laser to help reduce redness and inflammation associated with keloid and hypertrophic scars. The beam laser is exceptional for newly forming scars and those that have turned into early keloids. The Vbeam is also useful for reddish scars that are old and are formed from either surgery or acne.
 
Fractional radiofrequency is also an additional treatment for active and old scars that have lost normal skin texture and tone. This is an excellent option for patients who are in the late stages of scar formation and who have no tolerance for long periods of skin recovery. The fractional radiofrequency treatments use soundwaves to improve skin texture and skin inflammation.
 
Topical scar serums are also important component of any scar regimen. Based on your individual needs, you may require a combination of a Replenish cream to reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen formation; Combined with Platio's Scar Serum which uses a polysiloxane scar complex to modulate scar growth and formation.

Plato's Scar Serum at Kare Plastic Surgery
 
The treatment of scar discoloration begins with an analysis of the melanin content contained within a scar and its surrounding skin. Melanin deposition often responds to inflammation within the scar that occurs during the wound healing process. Depending on the longevity of scar healing, the melanin may be deposited within the epidermidis or deep within the dermis.
 
Hyperpigmented scars can have deeply set melanin within the dermis which may not respond readily to lasers or intense light therapy. Dr. Karamanoukian is an expert in hyperpigmented scar treatments and uses a combination protocol that employees laser, fractional radiofrequency, and topical treatments with Melarase AM and Melarase PM. 
 
Melarase AM is a topical skin preparation that contains skin-modulating ingredients that can decrease the amount of active melanin formation within the scar. The topical treatment also contain sunscreens that can block further accentuation of pigmentation from UV light. We begin most laser sessions with pre-treatment using Melarase AM in order to modulate the amount of hyperpigmentation. Melarase PM contains Arbutin, an analog of hydroquinone, which modulate the production of melanin within the skin. Both of these products can be used in unison in order to reduce hyperpigmentation associated with scars.
 
Dr. Karamanoukian will also recommend and exfoliating laser using fractional thermal energy in order to quickly remove pigmentation and dead skin on the surface of a scar. These lasers can also improve surface texture and contour rapidly and effectively.

Fractional CO2 laser is designed to improve texture and contour as deeply formed traumatic and surgical scars from plastic surgery, skin trauma, or burns. These lasers can be used in combination with PRP or growth factors to improve the visibility of scars.


Acne Scar Treatments in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades

Our office also specializes in acne scars and cystic acne treatments.

Kare Plastic Surgery scar treatment in santa monica
 
Acne scar treatments are among the most common procedures performed in healthy adults looking to improve the skin on their face. The most common reasons to undergo an acne scar treatment include active acne, inflammatory redness and pigmentation caused by old cysts, redness and facial blushing, and deeply pitted acne scars that make the contour of the skin look irregular and lumpy.
 
There are reasons to choose our dedicated Plastic Surgery in Cosmetic Dermatology Center located in Santa Monica California and serving the greater Los Angeles area. Our board-certified surgeons and nurse clinicians are dedicated to understanding your skin and providing you with surgical and nonsurgical treatments that are the most advanced in the United States. our surgical director, Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian has practiced in cosmetic dermatology and is double board-certified in plastic surgery. He has collaborated with the most famous dermatologists in the world and has active and ongoing research programs for the treatment of acne scars and scar removal.
 
The first step in managing your acne scars is to understand the fundamentals of cystic acne. There are many different types of acne lesions that can occur on your face and these often result from inflammatory processes that make oil glands and pores clogged and inflamed. Blackheads and whiteheads are known as comedones and are the most common types of acne lesions. Inflammatory acne includes papules, pustules, nodules, and active cysts. Acne can occur on any part of the body and face and it's important to see what external and internal factors are driving your acne breakouts. Without addressing the basic principles of acne flareups, it's almost impossible to secure a long-term solution for acne scars.
 
There are several factors that increase your odds for developing acne. The collection of dead skin cells can often clog your pores on the face and body and these clogged pores can either become inflamed or irritated. A second cause for acne is the overproduction of sebum through your oil glands. These oil glands often respond to periods of stress, changes in the diet, and hormones. Finally, bacteria can often build up in pores and cause a localized inflammatory process that can lead to active acne breakouts. Surely, there are genetic, hormonal, stress related, diet related, and environmental causes of acne.
 
Choosing Kare Plastic Surgery as you're dedicated cosmetic dermatology center is an excellent option for patients who want short and long-term solutions for their acne breakouts and acne scars. We offer a revolutionary technique known as a laser facial that uses fractional laser treatments to detox and clean out your skin. These fractional lasers can remove skin impurities, mitigate excess oil deposits in the skin, kill bacteria, and reduce the amount and severity of inflammatory acne breakouts.
 
We also use a combination of procedures to reduce active acne because these inflammatory cysts can often lead to more acne scars. Cortizone injections are used to shrink active lesions and to accelerate healing. our office also employs laser treatments to reduce redness and inflammation of the skin, radio frequency treatments to kill active bacteria, and chemical peels to control acne by removing the outer most layers of skin.
 
Kare Plastic Surgery is dedicated to treating active acne and inflammatory acne scars in teenagers and adults. Some adults may have a condition known as rosacea in which inflammation has set into in the skin, causing redness and skin irritation. The presence of inflammatory sis may also be a risk factor for acne scars including iceberg scars, valley scars, deeply in dented scars, hypertrophic scars, and atrophic scars. Multiple treatments are usually required with frequent visits to maintain healthy skin and also reduce the onset and severity of scars. There are no real cures for active acne, but treatment for acute flare ups and maintenance of healthy skin is a must. We would encourage patients to monitor their acne breakouts and maintain acne scar repair for a period of time in order to maintain healthy skin.
 
Some of the most popular acne scar treatments use non-bleed a fractional resurfacing such as Active FX, ultrafrax Laser, And fractional Erbium laser to improve the texture of the skin and to reduce the severity of indented atrophic acne scars. We are experts and non-ablative fractional resurfacing and have several lasers to reduce the visibility of acne scars.
 
Clear and brilliant laser followed by fractional CO2 are excellent ablative fractional treatments to dramatically improve skin texture and contour. We combine fractional and non-fractional laser resurfacing with fractional radio frequency in order to build collagen and even out irregular contours of valley acne scars, ice pick acne scars, and atrophic scars.
 
Fractional radio frequency is a novel treatment that utilizes soundwaves in order to build collagen. These treatments are excellent for patients who have limited downtime and works in school schedules that may Prohibit long periods of skin recovery.
 
Dr. Karamanoukian has also developed specific protocols for deep TCA peel's that can modulate skin repair and even out deeply pitted acne scars.
 
Lighter chemical peels are also employed for patients who have acne flareups on the body as a result of hormones and stress. These light chemical peels can reduce hyperpigmentation and scarring associated with body acne breakouts. We often combine these scar treatments with a pulse dye laser to help reduce post inflammatory erythema.
 
  Schedule a consultation and contact Dr. Karamanoukian Santa Monica
Kare Plastic Surgery
Santa Monica
804 7th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Consultations: (310) 998-5533
 
Kare Plastic Surgery and Skin Health Center
Hollywood Hills / Los Feliz
5636 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
Consultations: (310) 998-5533