What subcision is
Subcision is a doctor-performed procedure that divides the fibrous bands tethering a scar to the deeper tissue. The skin surface is not cut. A needle or blunt cannula enters through a small puncture beside the scar and works beneath it, in the subcutaneous plane. Because the band sits beneath the skin, lasers and peels at the surface do not divide it.
Dr Sin Yong marks each scar and examines it with your face at rest and in movement. The stretch test helps as a screening observation, but it is not a diagnosis. A scar that deepens when you smile may have some pull from the underlying muscle, and this too is only a guide.
Before your visit
How subcision Singapore treatment is done
Which scars it suits
Broad, wave-like undulations. See the rolling scars guide.
Boxcar scars held down by a band. See the boxcar scars guide.
This pattern is linked to pull from the muscle beneath, and it is a screening observation only.
Many faces have several scar types. Subcision treats only the tethered ones, so other scars are planned separately.
Where subcision fits in a plan
Release comes before resurfacing. If a scar is still tethered, resurfacing only treats a dimple that is being held down. After release, filler may be placed under a scar with a volume deficit. Radiesse is one possibility, and the material is chosen at assessment. Fractional CO2 on the S3 Resurfacing Lift or RF microneedling may follow to refine scar walls and texture. In Fitzpatrick III to V skin, stages are often separated so bruising and resurfacing inflammation do not overlap. Each released scar is reviewed before the next stage is booked. The wider sequence is set out under 4D Scar Reconstruction. Whether stages are done together or apart depends on your scars, skin type and expected bruising.
How subcision compares with other scar tools
| Tool | What it targets | What it leaves alone |
|---|---|---|
| Subcision | The fibrous band beneath a scar | Surface texture, ice pick tracts, raised scars |
| Filler under a released scar | A volume deficit in the floor | Edges and texture |
| Fractional CO2 or RF microneedling | Scar walls and texture | An intact tether |
| TCA CROSS | Narrow, deep ice pick tracts | Rolling scars |
| FSX Laser | Superficial texture | Deep scars and tethers |
Who should wait or be assessed first
It should be controlled first.
Treatment waits until this clears.
Subcision is deferred.
You wait until cleared at consultation.
Declare all medicines and supplements that affect bleeding.
These are discussed at assessment, and Fitzpatrick III to V skin is planned around pigment risk.
These may be referred to a plastic surgery or dermatology specialist for a punch technique or surgical revision.
Raised scars and keloids are managed separately, and ice pick scars follow a different route.
What subcision cannot do
These are narrow, deep tracts. TCA CROSS is the usual route.
These are an excess of collagen, not a tether, and are managed separately.
Scars with no tether need resurfacing instead.
It is not a laser or a peel.
It is usually a first stage, not a complete programme.
It is a release, not a resurfacing treatment or a filler. Where a floor has thinned or walls are sharp, other steps may follow.
After the procedure
Risks and side effects
Bruising, swelling and tenderness are expected and settle on their own. Small firm lumps can occur, and these are reviewed as they settle. Less common outcomes include infection, post-inflammatory pigmentation, raised scarring in those prone to it, and a poorer response than hoped. The released band can partly re-form during healing, and no duration is promised. Seek same-day attention for increasing pain, spreading redness or warmth, pus, or a firm lump that grows or hurts. Fitzpatrick III to V skin is planned around pigment risk, which is one reason stages are often kept apart.
Recovery, sessions and fees
Subcision is done at a single visit, and most people describe pressure and movement rather than sharp pain. Recovery varies by person and area. Sun protection is advised while bruising settles. Whether further release is needed is decided at review. Fees depend on the area, the number and density of tethered scars, whether subcision is used alone or combined, any added materials or devices, and how the plan is staged. A written quote is given after examination at consultation. That visit also decides whether subcision is advised at all.