The Revida Scar System
Severe Acne Scarring Transformation
## The Scars That Won’t Go Away
You had acne. It happened. You were a teenager, or in your twenties, and your skin erupted.
It was treated. The acne is gone. But the evidence remains.
Deep scarring marks your face. Not subtle shadows. Not mild textural irregularities. **Deep, obvious scars** that you think about every single time you look in the mirror.
### What You’re Living With
**Boxcar scars:** Indentations with relatively sharp, defined borders. They look like small depressions on your skin. When light hits them, they cast obvious shadows. They’re impossible to hide completely even with makeup.
**Rolling scars:** Undulating depressions across areas of your face—not sharp indentations but wavy, rolling texture. They give your skin a pitted appearance. Makeup sits unevenly in these areas.
**Ice pick scars:** Deep, narrow punctate scars that seem to go impossibly deep into your skin. They look like tiny pits. They’re the hardest scars to treat because of their depth and narrowness.
**Combined scarring:** Perhaps you have a mix—some boxcar scars on your cheeks, rolling scars across your forehead, maybe some ice pick marks scattered throughout.
**The texture:** Your skin feels uneven. Makeup sits unevenly in scarred areas. Your skin doesn’t feel smooth anymore.
### The Emotional Impact
This isn’t just about appearance. Acne scarring affects your life:
– **Constant self-consciousness:** Every time you look in the mirror, every photo, every social interaction where you’re aware of your appearance
– **Makeup dependency:** You’ve become skilled at makeup application because you *have* to. Without it, you don’t feel confident going out
– **Social anxiety:** In certain lighting (bright lights, natural sunlight), your scars are very obvious. You’re hyperaware of this in social settings
– **Professional impact:** First impressions matter. Deep scarring affects how people perceive you initially
– **Romantic/intimate relationships:** You’re self-conscious about your appearance. You avoid situations where scars might be obvious
– **Loss of confidence:** The cumulative effect of years of self-consciousness has eroded your confidence
You’ve tried solutions:
– **Countless skincare products:** Scar creams, serums, special formulations. They made your skin softer or more moisturized. They didn’t remove or significantly soften the scars.
– **Multiple rounds of non-CO2 laser:** You went through 4-6 treatments. Your skin looked slightly better—slightly fresher, slightly more glowing. But the scars? Still obviously there. The improvement plateau’d and won’t go further. The doctor just “wouldn’t go hard enough”.
– **Microneedling with radiofrequency:** You had multiple sessions. There was some improvement. You could see the texture had changed slightly. But the scars remained prominent. The improvement was incremental and limited.
– **Injectable fillers:** You’ve probably tried this. It works temporarily. While the filler is there, the scars are less obvious because they’re filled in. But it’s expensive (£200-400 per syringe, multiple syringes needed). You need redoing every 6-12 months. It’s an ongoing cost, not a solution. And it doesn’t actually address the scars—it just covers them temporarily.
– **Chemical peels:** You tried them. Surface improvement in overall skin texture. But they don’t reach deep enough to address the scar depth. The scars remain.
– **Dermabrasion or microdermabrasion:** You might have tried this. It helped a little bit. But it didn’t address the deeper scar structure.
**The common thread: nothing has reached deep enough. Nothing has actually removed or significantly softened the scarred tissue.**
You’ve reached the point where you’re considering your options carefully. You need something that actually works. Not another treatment that provides incremental improvement. Not another temporary solution. **You need real transformation.**
But you’re also realistic. You know deep scars can’t be made to completely disappear. But you’re hoping they can be softened enough that they stop dominating how you feel about your appearance. Soft enough that makeup becomes optional rather than essential. Soft enough that you can stop thinking about your scars and get on with your life.
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## Why Standard Scar Treatments Fail
Your frustration with previous treatments isn’t because you chose wrong or didn’t try hard enough. It’s because **most aesthetic practitioners treat acne scarring with tools and techniques that simply can’t reach deep enough.**
### The Fundamental Problem: Depth
Acne scarring exists in the dermis—sometimes extending deep into the reticular dermis. That’s where the fibrosis (scar tissue) has formed. That’s where the collagen architecture has been disrupted.
To meaningfully improve acne scars, you need to:
- **Reach the depth of the scarring** (not just superficial layers)
- **Remove or significantly disrupt the scar tissue**
- **Stimulate new collagen formation to replace the scar**
Most treatments don’t reach. They work at superficial levels:
**Microneedling:** Creates channels in the skin to trigger healing. But it doesn’t remove scar tissue. It doesn’t reach the depth of severe scarring. It’s useful for mild scars. For severe scars, it’s not enough.
**Non-ablative laser:** Heats the dermis to trigger collagen. But it doesn’t remove scar tissue. The scar remains underneath. Results are limited. Very limited.
**Radiofrequency:** Similar mechanism—heating to trigger collagen. Doesn’t remove scar tissue. Limited results.
**Chemical peels:** Dissolve superficial layers. Severe scarring is too deep. Doesn’t work.
**Dermabrasion:** Abrades superficial layers. Doesn’t reach deep scars. Limited results.
**Injectable fillers:** Fill in the scar temporarily. Don’t address the scar itself. Temporary solution only (6-12 months).
**Plasma pens:** Superficial ablation only. Don’t reach scar depth. Limited results for severe scarring.
### Why CO₂ Laser Is Different
**CO₂ laser is the only modality that can:**
- **Reach the depth of severe scarring**and
- **Ablate (remove) scar tissue**and
- **Remove damaged tissue and trigger replacement with new collagen**
This is why CO₂ laser is the gold standard for severe acne scar treatment.
But here’s the crucial point: **not all CO₂ laser use is equal.** Most practitioners use weak settings and generic protocols. The results are mediocre.
Real scar transformation requires:
– Deep understanding of scar anatomy
– Protocols specifically designed for different scar types
– Confidence to go deep when needed
– Skill to combine techniques (ablation + subcision + chemical cauterization when appropriate)
Most practitioners don’t have this combination.
—
## The Revida Scar Approach: Why We Get Results Others Can’t
We treat severe acne scarring differently. Better.
### 1. Scar-Specific Assessment
Not all acne scars are created equal. We assess your specific scarring:
– **Scar type:** Boxcar? Rolling? Ice pick? Mixed?
– **Scar depth:** Superficial? Moderate? Deep?
– **Scar tethering:** Is the scar anchored by fibrosis, or is it open?
– **Distribution:** Localized to one area, or scattered across face?
– **Associated texture damage:** Is there general texture damage in addition to scars?
Your specific scar pattern determines your optimal protocol.
### 2. Proprietary Protocols for Each Scar Type
**Boxcar scars** (sharp, defined borders) need different treatment than **rolling scars** (wavy, undulating). **Ice pick scars** (deep and narrow) need different treatment than **mild scarring**.
Over 1,000+ procedures, I’ve developed specific protocols for each scar type. Not generic weak settings. Not copied from competitors.
### 3. Advanced Subcision Technique (When Needed)
Some deep scars are anchored—held down by fibrotic tethers that pull the scar tissue deeper.
For these scars, **subcision** (surgical release of the fibrotic tether) can be combined with ablation for superior results.
Subcision releases the tether. Ablation removes remaining scar tissue. The combination achieves results that ablation alone can’t achieve.
Most practitioners don’t offer subcision. It requires specific training. We do.
### 4. Chemical Cauterization (CROSS Technique) for Ice Pick Scars
Ice pick scars are particularly challenging. They’re too narrow and deep for standard ablation.
**TCA CROSS (Chemical Reconstruction of Skin Scars)** uses concentrated TCA (trichloroacetic acid) precisely in ice pick scars. This chemically cauterizes the scar from inside out, triggering collagen reformation.
Combined with CO₂ ablation, this approach is highly effective for ice pick scarring.
Most practitioners don’t offer this. We do.
### 5. Integrated Multi-Technique Approach
For severe, complex scarring, we don’t rely on one technique. We combine:
– **Subcision** (to release fibrotic tethers)
– **CO₂ ablation** (to remove damaged tissue)
– **TCA CROSS** (for ice pick scars specifically)
– **Strategic passes at appropriate depths** (to address scar depth without over-treating)
This integrated approach achieves results that single-technique approaches can’t achieve.
### 6. Realistic Expectation Setting
We’re honest about what’s achievable. Deep scars can’t completely disappear. But they can be dramatically softened— 80-90% improvement is realistic for many patients with acne scarring although everyone’s recovery potential is different.
We manage expectations upfront, not promise miracles.
—
## Your Scarring Transformation: Which Protocol Is Right for You?
Depending on your specific scar pattern and severity, we have protocols ranging from £895-£2,650.
Choose from full face or part of face.
Eyelid treatment add-ons are available at a discount.
*Part of face pricing includes the most commonly affected areas defined as any or all of central cheeks, central chin and central forehead.
- ### Revida Repair (£895 full-face / £845 part of face)
10% off a course of 3 treatments
**For:** Active post-acne or mild scarring (superficial boxcar, mild rolling scars).
**Protocol:** Moderate fractional CO₂ resurfacing.
**What to expect:** Visible scar softening. Mild boxcar scars become less defined. Rolling scars become less wavy. 30-50% improvement typical for mild scarring.
**Downtime:** 3-5 days red, back to normal appearance by day 7-10.
Add Revida Lid Lift for just £395
Add Revida Lid Lift + for just £695
—
### Revida Repair-CROSS (£1,350 full-face / £1,295 part of face)
**For:** Primarily ice pick scarring that needs targeted chemical cauterization.
**Protocol:** Moderate fractional CO₂ resurfacing plus up to 100% TCA CROSS for ice pick scars specifically.
**What to expect:** Ice pick scars significantly softened. Other scars modestly improved. 40-60% improvement typical.
**Downtime:** 4-7 days.
– Add Revida Lid Lift for just £395
– Add Revida Lid Lift + for just £695
—
### Revida Refine (£1,595 full-face / £1,350 part of face)
10% off a course of 3 treatments
**For:** Moderate to severe boxcar and rolling scarring (most common presentation).
**Protocol:** Deep fractional CO₂ with multiple passes at appropriate depths.
**What to expect:** Substantial scar softening. Boxcar scars looking less like indentations. Rolling scars becoming less wavy. Overall texture improvement. 50-70% improvement typical.
**Downtime:** 5-7 days noticeably red. Pink phase for 3-4 weeks.
– Add Revida Lid Lift for just £395
– Add Revida Lid Lift + for just £695
—
### Revida Refine-X (£1,995 full-face / £1,875 part of face)
**For:** Severe fibrotic scarring with tethering (scars that seem to pull deep into your skin).
**Protocol:** Surgical subcision to release fibrotic tethers, plus deep fractional CO₂ ablation.
**What to expect:** Deep scar softening. Tethered scars becoming less anchored. 60-80% improvement typical for severe scarring.
**Downtime:** 7-10 days.
-Add Revida Lid Lift for just £395
-Add Revida Lid Lift + for just £695
—
### Revida Resolve (£2,650 full-face / £2,250 part of face)
**For:** Very severe, multi-type scarring (combination of boxcar, rolling, and ice pick; extensive distribution; significant depth).
**Protocol:** Full-field or deep fractional CO₂ with optional add-on subcision and/or TCA CROSS package, depending on specific scar pattern.
**What to expect:** Maximum scar system improvement achievable. 70-90% improvement realistic for even severe scarring.
**Downtime:** 7-14 days peak, pink for 4-6 weeks.
-Add Revida Lid Lift for just £395
-Add Revida Lid Lift + for just £695
—
Optional Refinement Stage
For the most severe and complex scarring patterns, a single Revida Resolve treatment often delivers a major transformation in depth, texture, and overall scar visibility.
In some cases, a patient may benefit from an optional refinement stage — a deep fractional Revida Refine treatment performed 3–4 months later to further smooth residual irregularities and push improvement even further.
This enhancement stage is not required for everyone, and it is not a bundled programme.
It is offered only where clinically appropriate, based on how your scars respond to the initial treatment, and includes a 10% fee reduction when performed within the 3–4 month timeframe as a continuation of your personalised scar-resolution journey.
—
## Understanding Your Realistic Results
### Important: Scars Don’t Vanish
Deep acne scars can’t be made to completely disappear and different people have different potential for improvement. Anyone who says anything to the contrary is being dishonest.
**What IS possible:** Scars can be dramatically softened. Softened enough that they stop being the dominant feature of your appearance. Softened enough that they don’t catch light as obviously. Softened enough that makeup becomes optional rather than essential. Softened enough to restore your confidence.
### The Transformation Timeline
**Months 0-1:** Recovery and initial healing.
**Months 1-2:** Initial scar softening visible. Not dramatic yet, but noticeable.
**Months 2-4:** Significant scar softening. Borders are noticeably softer. Depth is noticeably less obvious.
**Months 4-8:** Most of the visible improvement has occurred. Deep scars have softened substantially from baseline.
**Months 8-12:** Further subtle softening as collagen continues to remodel. By 12 months, you’ve reached the stability point.
**Beyond 12 months:** For severe scarring, continued subtle improvement for up to 18 months. For moderate scarring, improvement is largely complete by 12 months.
### What You’ll Actually See
**Before:** Your scars are obvious. They catch light. They create shadows and texture irregularities. They dominate how you feel about your appearance. Makeup is essential to feel confident.
**After (12 months):** Your scars are noticeably softer. They don’t catch light as dramatically. Shadows are less pronounced. Texture is more even. They’re still there (you know where to look), but they’ve stopped dominating your appearance. Makeup becomes optional. You stop thinking about your scars and can get on with your life.
—
## Scar Treatment Details: What Actually Happens
### Before Treatment
**Consultation (£60):** 30 minutes. I assess your specific scar pattern, discuss your expectations, review healing history.
**Test Patch (£195, optional but recommended):** I apply treatment to a 2-3 small scarred areas using exact settings you’d get in full treatment. After 30 days, you’ll see how your skin responds and what results are realistic for you. Cost credited toward full treatment.
### Day of Treatment
**Anaesthesia:** Topical numbing cream. You’ll feel pressure but not pain.
**Optional:** Full facial nerve blocks (£95) make you completely numb.
**Duration:** 45-90 minutes depending on scar severity and treatment type.
**During Treatment:** You hear the laser firing. You feel warmth and pressure. Your face gets progressively warmer.
**Immediately After:** Face is red and swollen (looks worse than it is). I apply cooling and specialized aftercare. You can drive home.
### Your Fractional Recovery Week-by-Week
**Days 1-2:** Peak swelling and redness. Sleep elevated. Ice compresses. Ibuprofen.
**Days 3-5:** Swelling much better. Redness intense. Superficial peeling. Continue aftercare.
**Days 5-7:** Mild swelling. Obvious peeling. Don’t pick—let fall naturally. Face looks better but obviously healing.
**Weeks 2-3:** Swelling gone. Pink phase. Can work if comfortable. Avoid intense activity and sun.
**Weeks 3-6:** Pinkness gradually fades. Scar softening becoming obvious.
**Weeks 6-12:** Most redness resolved. Dramatic scar improvement visible.
**Months 3-12:** Continued scar softening. Final result by 12 months.
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## Cost Breakdown
| Treatment | Price | Best For | Downtime | Expected Improvement |
| Revida Repair | £895 | Mild scarring | 3-5 days | 30-50% |
| Revida Repair-CROSS | £1,350 | Ice pick scars | 4-7 days | 40-60% |
| Revida Refine | £1,595 | Moderate/severe scarring | 5-7 days | 50-70% |
| Revida Refine-X | £1,995 | Severe fibrotic scarring | 7-10 days | 60-80% |
| Revida Resolve | £2,650 | Very severe multi-type scarring | 7-14 days | 70-90% |
**Example Cost Comparison:**
| Treatment | Single Cost | Estimated Annual Cost | | 5-Year Cost |
| Injectable filler (ongoing) | £200-400/syringe | £800-3,000 | |£4,000-15,000 |
| Non-ablative laser series | £500-1,000/session | £1,500-3,000 | £7,500-15,000 |
| Microneedling series | £400-600/session | £1,200-2,400 | £6,000-12,000 |
| **Revida Refine** (one-time) | **£1,595** | **£0 ongoing** | **£1,595** |
One Revida Refine costs less than one year of filler or laser treatments and delivers far better results for scarring. As always, a course of treatments will often be required for the best potential outcome.
—
## Optional Add-Ons
**Up to 100% TCA CROSS (Chemical cauterization):**
– Standalone: £495
– For ice pick scars specifically
(% concentration to be determined at consultation)
**Surgical Subcision (Fibrosis release):**
– Standalone: £725
– Add-on to Repair: £595
– Add-on to Resolve: £495
– For tethered, deep scars
**Treatment Packages:** 10% discount on a second “Optional Add-On” treatment within 90 days of the last treatment if required.
—
## Who Should Get CO₂ Scar Treatment
**You’re ideal if:**
– You have moderate to severe acne scarring
– You’ve tried other treatments without sufficient results
– You’re ready for meaningful transformation (not incremental improvement)
– You can manage 5-14 days visible recovery
– You have realistic expectations (scars soften dramatically, don’t vanish)
– You’re committed to aftercare protocol
**Consider alternatives if:**
– You have very mild scarring (Revida Repair at £895 is still good option, or microneedling)
– You can’t manage visible recovery time
– You want only temporary or lower-impact improvement (injectables might be better short-term option).
—
## Scar-Specific FAQ
### “Will All My Scars Be Gone?”
No, and anyone who promises that is lying. Deep scars can’t be made to completely disappear.
**What IS realistic:** 50-90% improvement depending on scar severity and type. Most patients see transformation that makes scars stop dominating their appearance. Every patient is unique and their treatment plans, skin journeys and outcomes will naturally vary.
### “How Many Treatments Do I Need?”
**Most patients:** One treatment delivers the bulk of improvement (50-80%).
**Severe scarring:** Second treatment 3-12 months later pushes improvement to 80-90%.
We assess during consultation and give specific recommendations.
### “Will My Skin Look Weird After Treatment?”
No. Because we’re removing scar tissue and replacing it with your own new healthy skin, not injecting foreign substances.
Results are natural-looking scar improvement. You still look like yourself, just without the scars dominating your appearance.
### “Is CO₂ Better Than Subcision Alone?”
For most scars, **yes**. Subcision alone releases fibrotic tethers but doesn’t remove or remodel scar tissue. CO₂ removes scar tissue and replaces it with new collagen.
**Best approach for severe fibrotic scars:** Subcision + CO₂ (Revida Refine-X, £1,995).
### “What About Different Scar Types?”
Different scars need different approaches:
– **Boxcar scars** (sharp borders): Respond well to deep fractional CO₂.
– **Rolling scars** (wavy): Respond well to deep fractional CO₂ and often benefit from subcision.
– **Ice pick scars** (deep, narrow): Best treated with TCA CROSS + fractional CO₂.
– **Mixed scarring:** Requires integrated assessment and potentially combined techniques including manual scar reduction and refinement.
I assess your specific pattern and recommend the optimal approach.
—
## Why Dr Brad for Severe Acne Scar Treatment
### Scar-Specific Expertise
Scar treatment is a subspecialty. It requires different approach than cosmetic CO₂ treatment. I’ve developed protocols specifically for different scar types and severity levels.
### 1,000+ CO₂ Procedures
Experience with how different scars respond, how deep to go, how to adjust for variations, how to achieve maximal improvement.
### Integrated Multi-Technique Approach
I offer subcision, TCA CROSS, and CO₂ ablation. Most practitioners offer only one or two. This integrated approach achieves better results for complex scarring.
### Honest Expectation Setting
I don’t promise miracles. I explain what’s realistic. For severe scarring, 70-80% improvement is realistic. Not 100%. This honesty builds trust.
### Medical Training
GP with full medical background. GMC registered. This gives diagnostic expertise, medical accountability, and understanding of healing physiology.
### Real Patient Results
4.9 out of 5 stars on Fresha from acne scar and other patients who went from self-conscious to confident.
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## Your Next Step
**Book a consultation:** £60 for 30 minutes via doctorbrad.co.uk
We’ll assess your specific scar pattern, discuss realistic expectations, and recommend the right protocol for you.
**Mandatory Test Patch:** £195 includes custom, multi-site test patching on scarred areas. Demonstrate safety and tolerability for your unique skin. Cost credited toward full treatment when delivered within 30 days.
Your scars have dominated your appearance and your confidence for long enough. Deep acne scarring is treatable. Not with quick fixes or ongoing maintenance. With real, lasting transformation.
Let’s discuss what’s possible for you.
—
**Dr Brad**
Aesthetic Medicine Expert • CO₂ Laser Expert
Bristol, South West England
GMC Registered • NHS GP • University of London Distinction in Aesthetic Medicine
4.9★ on Fresha (379 reviews) | 4.4★ on Google
Your Acne Scarring Laser Expert Doctor