Can laser remove a surgical scar?

No. Laser will not remove a scar.

How soon after surgery can I start?

Once the incision is fully healed and your surgeon has cleared you. We confirm the timing at your consultation.

Will laser fix a C-section shelf?

No. The shelf or overhang comes from tissue under the skin, which laser does not change. We will tell you if another route suits you better.

How many sessions will I need?

Typically four to five, about a month apart. We tell you the number at your consultation.

Can I have laser while pregnant?

No. We postpone laser treatment during pregnancy.

Laser for Surgical Scars | Texture & Tone, Hamilton

What can laser do for a surgical scar?

Surgical scars can be raised, tight, uneven or a different colour from the skin around them. Scars involve the deeper layer of the skin, where collagen sits.

We use the Frax 1550, a non-ablative fractional laser. Non-ablative means it does not remove the top layer of skin, and fractional means it treats thousands of microscopic columns of skin and leaves the skin between them intact.

This prompts new collagen, the protein that gives skin its structure. You can read more on our Frax 1550 page.

What can laser not do?

Laser works on the skin itself. It cannot remove a scar, and the line will still be there afterwards.

It also cannot change what sits under the skin. After a C-section, some people have a shelf or overhang above the scar. That comes from tissue below the skin, not from the scar on the surface, so laser will not fix it.

If we think another route would suit you better, we will say so at your consultation.

When can laser treatment start after surgery?

The incision needs to be fully healed, and your surgeon needs to have cleared you. Healing varies, so we confirm the timing at your consultation.

If you are unsure whether your scar is ready, book a consultation and bring any guidance from your surgeon. We would rather wait than treat skin that is still healing, and we also postpone laser during pregnancy.

How many sessions do surgical scars need?

Treatment is typically four to five sessions, about a month apart.

The number depends on the size of the scar, how raised or tight it is, and how your skin responds. We set it at your consultation after we have looked at the scar.

How long until results show?

New collagen takes time to form, so results build over three to four months. With sessions about a month apart, a full series and the results that follow take several months in total.

Results vary from person to person. You can see before and after photos on our results page.

What does a session feel like?

We apply numbing cream first.

Afterwards, skin is pink for a few days, then rough or slightly bronzed as it renews. Most people return to normal activities quickly.

For the first week, wear SPF 30+ daily, stay out of direct sun, and pause actives like retinol, exfoliating acids and vitamin C. We'll tell you when to restart them.

Does Frax 1550 suit different skin tones?

We check your skin and the scar at the consultation and confirm whether Frax 1550 is suitable.

How much does scar treatment cost?

Frax 1550 for surgical scars is from $200 per session. You can see every treatment on our prices page.

Every treatment starts with the 30-minute one-on-one consultation. We look at your scar, explain what laser can and cannot do for it, and tell you how many sessions you will need and the price. Read more on our Surgical scars page.

We are in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, and convenient for Burlington, Grimsby, Ancaster and Dundas.

Laser treatment for surgical scars: what's realistic