Subcision is a minimally invasive procedure that can significantly improve atrophic (indented) acne scars over time, but results are gradual, often need multiple sessions, and “before and after” photos online can be highly variable and sometimes misleading. Most people see partial, not “perfect,” improvement, and there is visible bruising and swelling in the early healing phase.

What subcision does

  • Subcision works by cutting the fibrous bands tethering depressed scars to deeper tissue so the skin can lift and collagen can remodel.
  • It is most effective for rolling and some boxcar scars, and usually combined with other treatments (fillers, microneedling, peels, lasers) for better outcomes.

Typical “before and after” pattern

  • In many real patient series, a single session may give modest improvement, while multiple sessions (3–6+ over many months) can lead to 30–50% or more visible improvement in depth and texture, not complete erasure.
  • Professional galleries and forums show that lighting, angles, makeup, and swelling can dramatically change the apparent result, so photos should be interpreted cautiously.

Short‑term “after” (days to weeks)

  • Immediately and during the first 1–2 weeks, skin usually looks worse: bruised, swollen, and sometimes lumpy or uneven, especially when fillers or suction methods are used.
  • Some users note that swelling can briefly make scars look much better (“honeymoon swelling”), but this can partially regress as swelling and temporary filler effects decrease.

Longer‑term “after” (months)

  • Over 2–6 months, collagen remodeling can make tethered scars shallower and skin texture smoother, with many patients and forum posters reporting meaningful but not flawless improvement.
  • Case reports show that even a single well‑performed session can outperform previous laser treatments for some patients, though many still choose follow‑up subcision or adjunct procedures.

Risks, complications, and realistic expectations

  • Reported complications include prolonged bruising, hematomas (blood collections), contour irregularities or “lumps,” pigment changes, and, rarely, nerve or vessel injury.
  • Recent reviews stress the importance of experienced practitioners, proper technique (sharp vs blunt cannulas, energy‑assisted devices), and careful patient selection to reduce risk and improve results.

Forum discussion & “trending” context

  • On acne‑scar forums and Reddit, subcision remains one of the more talked‑about, “core” treatments in 2024–2025 for tethered scars, often discussed alongside TCA CROSS, microneedling, RF microneedling, and laser resurfacing.
  • Many posters emphasize:
    • Managing expectations (aiming for visible improvement, not perfection).
    • Staging treatments over 1–2 years.
    • Consulting scar‑focused dermatologists or surgeons rather than generic med‑spas.

If you are considering subcision

  • Discuss with a qualified dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon who regularly treats acne scars, and ask to see unedited before‑and‑after photos taken in consistent lighting.
  • Ask about: number of expected sessions, combination treatments (fillers, RF microneedling, peels), downtime, cost, and your personal risk factors such as darker skin types or history of abnormal scarring.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.