Skin Subcision · SUBCISION
Skin Subcision
Not a missing piece, but skin pulled from below. We cut the tether — and refill the space it leaves.
Duration
30-40 min
Varies with extent
Pain
High
Under local anesthesia
Downtime
1-2 weeks
Bruising and swelling settle
Price
₩650,000~
2 combinations · per session
All prices shown include VAT.
At a glanceVaries by person · confirmed in consultation
- Areas
- Depressed acne scars — rolling and boxcar scars
- Duration
- About 30–40 min (by scar extent)
- Anesthesia
- Topical anesthetic combined with local anesthesia
- Recovery
- 1-2 weeks — bruising, swelling and a temporary lump; at least 2 weeks before an important event
- Onset
- Filling becomes visible once bruising and swelling subside; collagen builds over weeks to months
- Interval
- Usually 2–3 sessions at 2–3 month intervals
- Common reactions
- Bruising, swelling, pain and tenderness, temporary firm nodules (within 1–2 weeks)
A sunken scar is usually a tethered scar
A deep breakout leaves more than a mark. As inflammation damages the dermis and heals, tough fibrous bands form between the skin and the tissue beneath — and those bands keep pulling the skin inward.
That is why surface-only treatments hit a ceiling. Texture can improve while the downward pull remains, so the contour stays uneven — and so does the shadow it casts in side lighting.
Subcision cuts that tether directly. A cannula passed beneath the skin releases the fibrous bands so the held-down skin rises, and a regenerative agent fills the freed space to keep it from re-adhering.
Type
Cannula · release
Depth
Dermal–subcutaneous bands
Suited to
Rolling · boxcar
Sessions
2-3, every 2-3 months
Which scars subcision reaches — and which it doesn't
Stretch the skin outward on either side of the scar. If the depression flattens as you pull, something below is tethering it; if it stays, the tissue itself is missing.
Rolling — where subcision works
Soft-edged depressions that undulate across an area. Because fibrous tethering is the cause, releasing those bands addresses them directly. The classic pattern is a broad spread across the cheeks and temples.
Boxcar — a scar we recommend subcision for
Sharp-walled depressions with a flat floor. Where the floor is tethered, release lifts it — but the angular walls remain, so surface treatments such as laser or plasma are considered alongside.
Icepick — a different approach
Narrow, deep pits. Tissue is absent rather than pulled, so cutting bands changes little. Where these are mixed in, we guide you through other options as well.
Most faces carry all three types at once. So in consultation we first map which type dominates where, then separate what subcision will address from what needs another approach.
How Subcision works
Release — cutting the pull
Under local anesthesia, a blunt-tipped cannula is passed beneath the skin and swept in a fan to cut the bands holding the scar down. Its rounded tip pushes vessels and nerves aside rather than cutting them, so release happens only in the intended plane.
Filling — so it cannot re-tether
The released area is left as an empty space, and if nothing goes in, the layers can re-adhere while healing and return the scar to where it started. Filling it with Juvelook or Juveacell V reduces re-tethering, and the material itself acts as a support.
Collagen rebuild — over 1-3 months
The release itself signals the tissue to repair, and the material placed there stimulates fibroblasts so new collagen forms in that space. What you see right after is partly swelling and is not a fair gauge; the real change emerges gradually over 1-3 months.
What fills the space — two options
We do not perform subcision alone — an unfilled space re-tethers and undoes the result. At COCO Clinic the space is filled mainly with Juveacell V, and a version using Juvelook is also available. Which one to use is decided at consultation, based on the condition and extent of the scarring.
Mainly used
Juveacell V (hADM)
Human acellular dermal matrix (hADM) placed as-is to form a scaffold for regeneration. A matrix resembling dermal structure settles in immediately for solid support.
Juvelook (PDLLA)
A collagen booster whose PDLLA particles degrade gradually while stimulating collagen production. The lift comes from newly formed collagen rather than injected volume.
Subcision price & cost (VAT included)
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Subcision + Juvelook | ₩650,000 |
| Subcision + Juveacell V | ₩900,000 |
Prices are per session. The extent of scarring and the number of sessions needed are confirmed and explained during consultation.
Subcision results
A gentler contour
With the pull released and the space filled, the shadow that stood out in side lighting softens.
Surface treatments start to pay off
Release the downward pull first, and the laser or plasma work that follows shows up in the result instead of being cancelled out.
Less backsliding
Filling the released space with a regenerative agent blocks re-tethering, and new collagen grows there to hold the correction.
How a Subcision session goes
- 1
Stretch test and mapping
We separate scars that flatten when the skin is stretched from those that do not, and mark the area needing release directly on the face.
- 2
Local anesthesia
After a topical anesthetic cream, local anesthesia is applied to the marked area. During release you feel pressure rather than pain.
- 3
Release, then fill
The cannula releases the fibrous bands, and Juvelook or Juveacell V goes into that space in the same sitting. Waiting lets re-adhesion begin, so the two steps run back to back.
- 4
Follow-up and next session
Once bruising and swelling settle, we re-examine what contour remains. Typically 2-3 sessions at 2-3 month intervals address the bands left behind.
Who Subcision is for
- Those bothered by rolling scars spread across the cheeks and temples
- Those whose depressions flatten when the skin is stretched
- Those who have had repeated laser scar treatment yet the contour is unchanged
- Those especially bothered by the shadow that appears in side lighting
- Those able to accept 1-2 weeks of bruising and swelling
Subcision side effects & aftercare
- Redness, swelling, and bruising accompany treatment and may last about 1-2 weeks.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 2-3 days, and rest well for a quicker recovery.
- For one week, refrain from saunas, steam rooms, and vigorous exercise — anything that raises body heat.
- Do not rub or massage the released area firmly; it interferes with the filling settling into place.
- What you see right after includes swelling and is not a fair gauge. Real improvement appears over 1-3 months.
- If you suspect an abnormal reaction such as pain or inflammation at the site, please contact the clinic.
Subcision FAQ
Surface scar treatment
What refines the surface texture and pores?
Subcision releases the pull from below; Legato II refines texture and pores from the surface into the dermis. The two are often used together at separate stages.
Related Columns
Scar TreatmentWhich Acne Scars Does Subcision Treat, and How Does It Work?
Some acne scars are pulled down by fibrous bands under the skin. Subcision cuts those bands and fills the space. Which scars it suits, recovery and sessions.
Scar TreatmentIs Legato II a Laser? Micro-Plasma for Acne Scars and Pores
Legato II uses plasma, not laser light, to open fine channels that heal with new collagen. Which acne scars it suits, when subcision helps, and downtime.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jae Young Ko, Medical Director · Last updated
Consultation
Will subcision work on my scars?
We start by stretching the skin to identify what type your scars are, then guide you through what subcision will cover, which filling agent fits, and how many sessions are needed — in a 1:1 consultation.