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Aesthetics InternationalTreatments reviewed. Protocols vetted.
Reviews What works, what doesn't By concern Head to head Protocols Global faculty Journal Dr Sin Yong Ask us
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Vetted protocol

4D Scar Reconstruction

Tethering, depth, texture and volume addressed within one coordinated protocol: subcision, collagen stimulation, point-shot ablation and fractional laser.

FamilyScars
PlatformS3 Resurfacing (DEKA Tetra Pro CO₂), subcision, TCA CROSS and calcium hydroxylapatite post-subcision
Developed byDr Sin Yong
SharedDeveloped by Dr Sin Yong; a core subject of his DEKA faculty work
Performed byDr Sin Yong personally, Singapore
Dr Sin Yong — faculty work

What is the 4D Scar Reconstruction?

The 4D Scar Reconstruction is a scar reconstruction protocol developed by Dr Sin Yong in Singapore, delivered with S3 Resurfacing (DEKA Tetra Pro CO₂), subcision, TCA CROSS and calcium hydroxylapatite post-subcision, and used for rolling, boxcar and ice-pick acne scars, surgical scars within their treatment window, traumatic scars.

You can resurface a tethered scar indefinitely — the tether keeps pulling it down. Release comes first. 4D Scar Reconstruction addresses the four dimensions of a scar — tethering, depth, texture and volume — in a planned sequence, once the scar type has been identified.

Rolling scars are tethered from below and need release before resurfacing. Ice-pick scars need focal chemical reconstruction or point-shot ablation. Boxcar scars need edge work and depth. Volume lost under a scar is restored with collagen stimulation after release.

If someone offers one treatment for acne scars, they have not looked closely enough. The protocol exists because scars within a single cheek differ.

How it is planned

Release

Subcision of the tethers that hold rolling scars down.

Rebuild

Collagen stimulation where volume has been lost beneath the scar.

Resurface

Point-shot ablation and fractional CO₂ for depth and texture.

Where it is used

  • Rolling, boxcar and ice-pick acne scars
  • Surgical scars within their treatment window
  • Traumatic scars

Course and recovery

Pinpoint scabbing follows resurfacing, and bruising is usual where subcision has been performed. Recovery varies with the depth treated. The number of sessions and the interval are set individually and reviewed as the skin remodels.

What it is not

  • No scar treatment removes a scar entirely.
  • It is not a single modality, and it is not a single session.
  • Resurfacing a tethered scar treats the wrong structure.
“If someone offers you one treatment for your acne scars, they haven't looked closely enough.”
Dr Sin Yong

Questions

Why four dimensions?
Because a scar has tethering, depth, texture and lost volume — and each needs a different tool. The sequence matters as much as the tools.
Does it work on old scars?
Acne scars respond at any age; surgical scars have a treatment window, which is assessed individually.
What is the recovery like?
Scabbing and bruising for several days to a week or more, depending on which steps were performed.

Related protocols

S3 Resurfacing LiftSkin and scarsFSX LaserSkinLuminescence Laser LiftSkin, body and hair

Assessment first

Whether the 4D Scar Reconstruction suits a face or a body is decided at an in-person assessment with Dr Sin Yong in Singapore. There are no packages, and the honest answer is sometimes a different protocol — or none.

WhatsApp +65 8023 7170

For physicians

Dr Sin Yong shares this protocol at manufacturer academies and congresses by invitation. Faculty enquiries are handled by email.

[email protected]