Laser for Scar Treatment & Prevention

A Dedicated Clinic for Personalised Scar Rehabilitation

Scars tell a story—but they don’t have to define yours.

At Northern Sydney Dermatology & Laser, we offer a dedicated Scar Program designed to improve the appearance, texture, and function of scars—whether they are caused by acne, surgery, injury, burns, or medical procedures.

Led by Dr Nina Wines, a procedural dermatologist with deep experience in multi-modal scar treatment, the program brings together evidence-based therapies, precise laser protocols, and tailored care pathways for long-term results.

What Is the NSDL Scar Program?

Our Scar Program is a structured, dermatologist-led treatment plan tailored to your unique scar type, skin type, and healing goals. It includes:

  • Clinical Scar Assessment
    Grading of scar severity, depth, type (atrophic, hypertrophic, rolling, ice pick, surgical, traumatic)
    Skin tone and texture analysis
    Individualised treatment mapping

  • Customised Laser Protocols
    Selection of laser(s) based on scar type, location, and skin response. These may include:

    • Fractional non-ablative lasers

    • Fully ablative COâ‚‚ laser for raised or thickened scars

    • Vascular lasers (595nm) for red or inflamed scars

    • Radiofrequency microneedling (RF) when appropriate

    • Laser-assisted drug delivery for enhanced healing

  • Treatment Timing & Layering
    Sequential or stacked laser treatments to improve collagen remodelling
    Scheduling to optimise healing phases and skin priming
    Adjunctive techniques such as subcision, Pinpoint CO2, TCA CROSS, or injectables as needed

  • Dermatologist Monitoring
    Pre- and post-treatment photography
    Healing check-ins and progress tracking
    Ongoing refinement of your plan based on results

Why a Dedicated Scar Clinic Matters

Scar treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Many patients have received poor results—or worse, complications—from generic or non-medical laser providers. At NSDL, we take a dermatology-led approach, which means:

  • Scars are medically graded

  • Laser parameters are precisely tailored for your skin tone and scar type

  • Treatment is designed to improve both appearance and skin health

  • We integrate preventive care (especially after surgery or acne flare) to reduce long-term scarring

Who Is the Scar Program For?

  • We are an outpatient scar management facility & can manage all forms of scars expect for those that involve a large surface area and hence need sedation to manage. We do not have day surgical facilities and hence do not sedate patients for treatment.

  • For this reason our clinic is not designed for people with large wide spread scars eg burns over a large surface area.

  • Post surgical scars

  • Traumatic eg post injury, shark bite etc

  • Small to medium hypertrophic/Keloid scars (in combination with medical therapy)

  • Post-acne scarring (atrophic, boxcar, ice pick, rolling)

  • Surgical scars (especially early intervention to reduce thickening)

  • Post-inflammatory erythema or pigmentation after acne

Understanding the Process: Multimodal Scar Management & Bridging Treatments

At NSDL, we don’t just treat scars—we manage them strategically over time, combining multiple treatment types across different phases of healing for the best possible result.

What is Multimodal Scar Management?

Scars are complex. That’s why no single treatment is effective for everyone. Multimodal scar management means using a combination of scientifically proven techniques tailored to your scar type, location, and skin biology and using multiple modalities in a single session to enable more advanced outcomes for you.

Each session usually entails a combination of :

  • Resurfacing Lasers
    Fractional lasers (like Fraxel or COâ‚‚) stimulate collagen and remodel scar tissue.

  • Vascular Lasers (e.g., 595nm)
    Target redness and visible blood vessels in red or inflamed scars.

  • Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery (LADD)
    Lasers open microchannels in the skin to allow medications to penetrate deeper, enhancing treatment for thickened or inflamed scars.

  • Scar-Focused Injectables
    In cases of hypertrophic scarring or volume loss, targeted injections may be incorporated.

Each treatment addresses a different aspect of the scar—structure, colour, depth, inflammation—and is sequenced for optimal healing.

Bridging Treatments: What Happens Between Laser Sessions

True scar rehabilitation requires time. The skin needs to heal, remodel, and build new collagen between sessions.

During this time, we may recommend:

  • Compression Therapy (specifically designed for you)

  • Topical Medications

  • Massage therapy

These "bridging" therapies help maintain momentum, protect the skin during healing phases, and ensure that when you're ready for your next session, your skin is optimised to benefit fully.

Your Scar Journey, Professionally Guided

From your initial consult to the final result, you are supported with:

  • A personalised roadmap

  • Evidence-based treatment selection

  • Progress reviews and photography

  • Adjustments as your skin responds

We don’t offer cookie-cutter treatments—we offer commitment, science, and care and individualisation of your treatment

FAQ – Scar Program

1. Do I need a referral?

No referral is required. You can book directly with one of our dermatologists for scar assessment. But if you have a referral you may be eligible for some medicare rebate, but there are not many medicare item codes for scar management.

2. How many sessions will I need?

This depends on the type and severity of your scar. Some patients require a series of 3–6 sessions, while others may benefit from a single targeted treatment.

3. Is the treatment painful?

We sometimes use topical anaesthetic and cooling during treatment. Most patients describe discomfort as mild and manageable.

4. Will my scar go away completely?

Scars can be significantly improved, but not entirely erased. Our goal is natural refinement—smoother, more even skin that restores your confidence.

5. How much downtime is there?

Minimial. You will be guided carefully.

Results vary between individuals. Images are of patients treated by Dr Nina Wines and are published with their consent. These are for illustrative purposes and are not a guarantee of results

All medical and laser procedures carry some risks. The information provided here is general in nature and not a substitute for a professional medical consultation. For advice tailored to your skin and health, please book an appointment with Dr Nina Wines.

Learn more about scar treatment and prevention with Dr Wines - phone 02 9958 1555 or email info@drninawines.com