Subcision

Subcision targets depressed scars that are tethered downward by fibrous strands beneath the skin. The classic use is for rolling acne scars on the cheeks—shallow, saucer-like depressions with soft, sloping edges. A common bedside clue is that these scars flatten noticeably when the surrounding skin is stretched. It is sometimes also used for tethered depressions left by injury or surgery, but whether a specific scar is suitable should be judged in person by a physician.

What subcision does is cut the anchor holding a scar down; it does not resurface the skin or rebuild lost texture on its own. Deep, narrow ice-pick scars and sharply punched-out boxcar scars generally respond poorly and are usually managed with other techniques. Improvement after one session is typically partial, which is why clinicians often plan several sessions, or pair subcision with fillers, laser resurfacing, or microneedling as part of a broader strategy.

A tethered scar sits low because fibrous bands run from its underside to deeper tissue, pulling the surface down. During subcision, the clinician inserts a hypodermic needle—often one with a special bevel—or a blunt cannula through a small entry point and sweeps it back and forth beneath the scar to cut or loosen those bands. The release itself lets the scar lift, and the small pocket of controlled bleeding left underneath stimulates new collagen that helps support the skin from below.