What Can Be Corrected with Subcision?

Subcision allows us to correct:

• Depressions subsequent or not to traumas in which the skin appears little mobile.
• Cellulite hollows caused by the lack of elasticity of these ties that do not follow the stretching of the skin distended by the fatty layer.
• Folds caused by age-related skin drooping.

However, subcision cannot treat:

• Defects involving both fixation and major loss of volume.
• Major drooping of the skin or of large areas.
• Certain areas (closeness to nerves and blood vessels), certain skins (very fine with very little fatty tissue).

Abnormal bleeding or scarring reactions (formation of unsightly scars or healing delays, as in the case of diabetics or patients taking certain medications).

How Does Subcision Work?

The efficiency of subcisions rests on two joint mechanisms of activity. First of all, the tension fibres under the skin are disengaged by attaching them to the underlying structures in order to lift the skin. Then a small controlled trauma is created so as to prompt the tissue repair mechanisms with the result that connective tissue will form and fill in the depression area.

As for the procedure itself, the correction site is marked precisely then anaesthetized. A fine blade or three-angled needle is introduced under the skin then sweeps back and forth the area under the deficit until there is no more resistance.

A compression bandage will be worn for 48 hours. Make-up can be put over the area to conceal the ecchymoses (bruises). This technique involves little pain.

Subcision stirs a lot of interest because it stimulates the individual processes of healing and correcting defects without using other products or implanting foreign bodies locally. The resulting fibrosis is permanent. The correction obtained can be maintained by simple recalls over the years.

Is More Than One Treatment Required?

Due to the fact that tissue repair and synthesis varies from one individual to the other, it is not possible to predict with certainty how many subcision treatments will be required to correct a particular problem.

As a rule, more than one subcision needs to be performed. Normally, between 3 and 6 visits will be sufficient to correct wrinkles or scars of moderate size. One-month intervals between visits allow the ecchymoses and swellings to heal as well as the connective tissue to form properly. An extended period will not diminish the final result but only prolong the time to achieve it.

Are There Related Effects?

Ecchymoses (bruises) are frequent and last from 2 to 3 weeks. At the face level, a section of the pilosebaceous complex may cause an acneform reaction, which is easily treated by isolated drainage, or associated with antibiotic therapy.

Skin consistency may be slightly firmer and on the whole amply compensated by the improvement in appearance. Transitional postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is possible in patients with certain types of skin. Excessive reaction may occur in 5% to 10% of cases, which will respond to an anti-inflammatory treatment.

Other Procedure Options

Regarding fine lines, all injectable implants can be suitable alternatives.

When the surface to be covered is extensive, the lipotransfer technique will then be called upon. Excision surgery may, in some cases, constitute an alternative but at the price of a scar.

For More Information on Subcision

For more information on subcision and to ascertain that this technique meets your needs, feel free to contact Dr. Élise Bernier. You will also benefit from a professional evaluation.