Tixel Resurfacing for acne scars At A Glance
- Best Results3-5 treatments
- Treatment Recovery1-3 days
- Procedure Time5 to 30 mins
- Skin SpecialistNurse, Dermal Therapist
- Duration of ResultsLife (*Acne remission)
- Anaesthetic Nil
- Back to WorkImmediately
- Cost$ - $$
Tixel Resurfacing for acne scars
Tixel is a gentle form of fractional resurfacing without the use of laser light. This treatment can help remodel early acne scars without the downtime & costs associated with laser surgery.
FactsFacts on Tixel Resurfacing for skin scars
- Tixel is the latest form of ‘fractional’ resurfacing
- Fractional treatments only treat a predetermined area of skin
- Smaller fractions of treated skin enables faster recovery
- Tixel uses controlled heat to remodel and stimulate collagen production
- This is best used for mild to moderate early acne scars
Can Tixel treat all types of skin?
Yes, unlike laser energy, Tixel uses a short pulse of controlled heating to remodel skin.
All skin types, including ethnic and Asian skin can be treated with this technology.
Can Tixel treat all forms of acne scarring?
No. Scar directed treatments are the gold standard in the revision of acne scars. This means certain methods are used to treat certain types of acne scars.
Tixel is best used for early acne scarring, in particular for patients who are on isotretinoin-Oratane – Accutane. Fractional laser resurfacing has been shown to be effective and safe in patients on this medication. Fractional resurfacing, including Tixel gives a global improvement in acne scarring, namely some forms of acne scars respond better than others. Deeper – more severe acne scars may require keyhole surgical subcision to improve the appearance of scars. Red acne scars do best with vascular lasers, whilst brown acne scars do best with pico & Spectra lasers.
What forms of acne scarring are best treated with Tixel Technology?
Early acne scars, namely scars that are still red, and or scars that are less than 3 -4 months old. Tixel is a cost effective scar revision treatment, and compares favourably with microneedling, ablative and nonablative fractional / Fraxel lasers.
Fractional treatments can improve shallow boxcar scars, pits, shallow ice pick scars, shallow saucer scars, enlarged pores & early red scars known as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation – post inflammatory erythema.
What forms of acne scarring do not respond well to Tixel?
Hypertrophic or raised acne scars do not respond to this treatment. Pulse dye laser, silicone tape, & steroid injections are used to treat this form of acne scarring.
Ice pick, severe atrophic & rolling scars are best treated with deep peels, lasers & surgery. These scars do not respond to Tixel Resurfacing.
Post inflammatory Hyperpigmentation or PIH presents as brown marks, this type of scarring is best treated with Pico Lasers, Spectra & other devices.
For an obligation free assessment on how to treat acne scars, contact Cutis Dermatology, Brisbane for an assessment with my clinical nurses. They will give you an idea if your acne/scars can be treated with Tixel.
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How many treatments will I require?
2-5 depending on the severity of acne scars & your expectations. Treatments are spaced 3-6 weeks apart.
When will I see results?
Providing you acne is well controlled, expect to see results within 4-6 weeks. Maximal results are seen within 10-14 weeks, usually after a series of 3 to 5 sessions.
Basic acne scar revision concepts
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👉Real life: Is not that simple. Scar signatures vary considerably even within patients.
Scar morphology changes with procedures. Classification however is a great starting point
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🛬Many doors to the same destination: In most cases the rules are not set in stone, & there are various methods to treat each scar type. Add to this the differences in devices & skill sets of operators. If all things are equal, there is a marked variation between each patient’s regenerative & remodeling potential. Furthermore age related atrophy plays an important role in acne scar revision
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👍🏻It’s much more complex than matching scars to procedures, but it is a step in the right direction💯
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😎Dr Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane 🇦🇺
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#acnescar #scarrevision #acnescartreatment #acnescarcure #icepickscars #drdavinlim #brisbanedermatologist
Tixel is a novel method of collagen remodeling that is based on short contact superheating without the use of laser energy
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🔬Skin Science: This treatment uses titanium pins to deliver heat in a short period of time. Tixel is a good option for #collagen remodelling (especially good around the eye area). I have extended its use for treatment of early acne scars (<4 months). Ideal scar types are polymorphic low volume superfical atrophic (non-ice pick). The results are surprisingly good given the fact that this is a non-invasive treatment
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👉Tips: For this to be effective your acne MUST be under absolute control; this means no activity or on a downward trend. All skin types can be treated, downtime (pin marks) for around 2-4 days depending on the settings. The results are comparable to nano RF or shallow RF microneedling (but more cost effective & less painful)
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🙏🏼Compatible with: All acne treatments including #isotretinoin & topical retinoids
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🎬Action: Book an appointment with my nurses or my dermatology colleagues @clinicutis to see if this treatment is for you
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
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#acnescars #scartreatment #acnescarcure #acnescartips #dermatology #brisbanedermatologist #drdavinlim #davinlim #tixel
How long will I take to recover following fractional resurfacing?
Tixel resurfacing has a very quick recovery time ranging from 1-4 days depending on the passes and energy level. Post treatment redness and dots are the most commonly seen. Makeup and or tinted sunscreen can be worn the next day as a cover up. This form of resurfacing has less downtime compared to laser resurfacing, with very similar results.
Can I have treatment whilst I am on Oratane / Accutane / Roaccutane?
Yes, fractional treatments including Tixel, microneedling, & fractional laser resurfacing are safe treatments modalities for patients on this medication.
The revised guidelines published in 2016 allows for most acne scar treatments to be performed whilst on isotretinoin, the only two exceptions are fully ablative lasers & segmental or full face deep chemical peels (TCA CROSS excluded).
How do I know if Tixel is a suitable treatment for my acne scars?
Tixel is best employed for acne scars less than 3-6 months old, and or scars with mild depression with some redness. This treatment is ideal for patients on Oratane/Accutane/Roaccutane – isotretinoin. Early remodelling of acne scars can often give good results & in most cases can mitigate more invasive treatments.
For a formal assessment to assess your scars, contact Clinic Cutis.
Davin’s view point on Tixel for Acne Scarring
This is a brilliant entry level scar revision procedure for patients with mild & early acne scars. In the past we used the eMatrix RF as well as the Fraxel Dual 1550 for the management of mild scarring. The great thing about Tixel is that there are no consumables, which means a cost saving to the patients. Additionally discomfort is kept to a minimum, whilst healing times range from 1-3 days, depending on the treatment settings & overlaps.
This treatment is ideal for patients on Accutane-Oratane as skin healing can be delayed on this medication. The ideal candidate for Tixel are patients with objectively mild & early acne scarring, namely scars that are less than 3-4 months old (slightly pink-red). There are however limitations on the efficacy of fractional skin resurfacing treatments as deep rolling, atrophic & ice pick scars do not respond well to superficial revision modalities. Consult my clinical nurses for an assessment of your scars & treatment plan.
* Disclaimer: the majority of my work focuses on objectively severe acne scars defined by scar grading. The average distance of viable scarring ranges from 2-7 meters. The limitations are due to Medicare & health insurance requirements. The majority of my revision procedures are conducted in theater under sedation as my primary methods of revision include keyhole subcision surgery & ablative lasers. If you have mild scars (with objective measurements) I can still assess & provide a nurse led treatment plan.
