Treatment produces gradual, cumulative improvement — a clear step at each session, and considerably more over a course than any single treatment achieves. We have stopped quoting a percentage per session, because there is no validated scale for grading acne scarring and the figures circulating in this field are not comparable between clinics or between studies. The structural work largely holds: a released tether does not re-form, and new collagen is real tissue. But natural loss of facial volume with age changes how any scar reads over the following decades, so we would rather say lasting than permanent.
01
Treatment and results
- How much improvement can I expect, and is it permanent?
- How many treatments will I need and over how long?
Many patients return four to eight times at intervals of three to six months or longer, treating over two to three years. Scar revision is a complex and variable procedure that requires patience from both the patient and the specialist.
- Why do you space energy treatments three months apart?
Because skin healing — new collagen formation and dermal remodelling — takes that long. Treating again before the previous response has completed adds risk without adding result.
- What kind of treatment works best for my scars?
That is what the consultation is for. Several lasers and non-laser treatments are usually combined for the best outcome, and the mix is what forms your individual scar revision programme. Dr. Henningsen will guide you through which treatment to choose at each point in the course.
- Will I lose volume in my face with subcision or energy devices?
Performed correctly and without complications, no. Radiofrequency microneedling taken too deep can affect facial fat and cause unwanted volume reduction — which is why depth and settings are chosen individually.
02
Suitability
- Will I be a candidate if I still have active acne?
Mild acne is not a barrier. Moderate to severe acne is treated first, so that new lesions do not create new scarring behind the scars we are correcting.
- Can I have treatment while taking isotretinoin?
Most acne scar treatments can be performed safely during isotretinoin therapy. We do not offer full ablative laser resurfacing during that period, as the evidence is not sufficient to consider it equivalent on skin undergoing isotretinoin treatment.
- I have dark skin. How does that affect my options?
All treatment types are offered to patients with darker skin. Minor temporary hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation can occur and usually fades during healing over weeks or months. Avoiding sun exposure and using a high-factor sunscreen afterwards minimises the risk.
- My skin forms hypertrophic scars and keloids. Am I still a candidate?
Usually yes. Treatment is possible for most people with a history of hypertrophic scarring, and many patients with keloid scars are candidates depending on individual circumstances. A consultation is the right way to assess it.
03
Practical
- How do I book an appointment?
Send an enquiry through the contact form on this site. While the Marbella clinic is being prepared, appointments are arranged individually and we will reply to you personally.
- How long should I stay after treatment?
Most patients stay one or two nights before travelling home, although same-day travel is possible with some redness and swelling. A nurse check-up before departure can be arranged.
- Which payment methods do you accept?
Card payment. Cash is not accepted.
- Can I have another consultation to discuss progress?
An in-person review is the most accurate way to assess your response and plan the next treatment. Alternatively, send recent photographs with a description of how your skin responded and Dr. Henningsen will advise remotely.
- Is there a consultation fee?
Yes. The consultation is a clinical appointment with a specialist, reserved for twenty minutes, and is charged separately from any treatment. The current fee is confirmed when your appointment is arranged.
Consultation
Still not sure?
Ask the question directly. Dr. Henningsen reads every enquiry, and if the honest answer is that a treatment will not help you, that is what you will be told.