Acne scar removal typically costs between $200 and $6,000 per session, depending on the type of treatment. Most people need multiple sessions, so the total investment often lands somewhere between $1,000 and $10,000 or more for a full course of treatment. The wide range comes down to your scar type, the procedure you choose, how many sessions you need, and where you live.
Insurance almost never covers acne scar treatment. A study analyzing 58 American insurance companies found that zero would extend coverage for dermabrasion or chemical peels used to treat acne scarring, even though nearly half had explicit policies addressing it. Scar removal is classified as cosmetic, so you should plan to pay out of pocket.
Laser Resurfacing: $800 to $3,500 Per Session
Laser treatments are the most common approach for moderate to severe acne scars, and the national average cost for laser skin resurfacing is $1,829, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. CO₂ laser resurfacing, the most aggressive option, runs $800 to $3,500 per session. These lasers work by removing thin layers of damaged skin and triggering your body to rebuild collagen as it heals.
The total number of sessions depends on how deep your scars are and which laser your provider uses. Ablative CO₂ lasers are the most powerful and may produce significant results in just one to three sessions, but they’re spaced three to six months apart because of the longer recovery time. Fractional lasers, which treat only a portion of the skin’s surface per session, typically require three to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. At the high end, a full course of fractional laser treatments could run $5,000 to $20,000.
Less intense laser options like pulsed-dye lasers need three to five sessions and are better suited for flat, discolored scars rather than deep pitted ones. They cost less per session but still add up over a full treatment course.
Microneedling: $200 to $1,525 Per Session
Standard microneedling is one of the more affordable options, costing $200 to $700 per session. The procedure uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin, prompting your body to produce new collagen that gradually fills in depressed scars. Face treatments tend to start around $300 per session.
Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling, which combines the needles with electromagnetic energy for deeper tissue remodeling, costs significantly more. The average price is around $1,525 per session. Brands like Morpheus8 and Vivace fall into this category. Most people need at least four RF microneedling treatments spaced six weeks apart, which puts the total cost in the $4,000 to $6,000 range for a full series. Standard microneedling also requires multiple sessions but at a much lower total price point, often $1,000 to $3,000 for a complete course.
Chemical Peels: $500 to $6,000 Per Session
Chemical peels vary enormously in cost based on their depth. Medium-strength peels using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) run $500 to $4,000 per session and work well for uneven texture and shallow scars. Deep peels using stronger chemicals like phenol cost $1,500 to $6,000 or more per session and target severe scarring. Deep peels are the most intensive option, requiring significant recovery time, but they can sometimes produce dramatic results in a single session.
A specialized technique called TCA CROSS, where a high concentration of acid is applied precisely into individual ice pick scars, is often priced per scar or per treatment area rather than as a full-face procedure, making it more affordable for people with a small number of deep, narrow scars.
Fillers and Subcision: Priced by Syringe or Scar
Dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Sculptra can be injected directly under depressed scars to raise them to the level of surrounding skin. Fillers are priced per syringe, and the total cost depends on how many syringes you need. A single syringe of hyaluronic acid filler typically costs $600 to $1,000, and treating a cluster of scars might require two to four syringes. Hyaluronic acid fillers last about six to twelve months before they dissolve.
Sculptra works differently. It stimulates your body to build its own collagen over time, and results can last up to two and a half years. It requires an initial series of treatments spaced one month apart, so the upfront cost is higher but the per-year expense may be lower than repeated filler injections.
Subcision is a minor procedure where a needle is inserted under a scar to break up the fibrous bands pulling the skin down. It’s often paired with fillers for the best results. The filler adds immediate volume while subcision prevents the scar from reattaching to deeper tissue. Pricing depends on how many scars are treated and whether fillers are included.
Punch Excision: $250 to $1,750
For deep ice pick scars that don’t respond well to lasers or peels, punch excision is a minor surgical option. The procedure physically cuts out each individual scar and closes the wound with a tiny stitch, leaving a much less noticeable mark. It costs $250 to $1,750 depending on how many scars are treated in one visit, your provider’s experience, and geographic location. Some providers combine punch excision with punch grafting, replacing the removed scar tissue with a small skin graft taken from behind the ear.
What Drives the Final Price
The biggest factor in your total cost isn’t the price of a single session. It’s how many sessions you need and whether your provider recommends combining treatments. Severe scarring with a mix of scar types (deep ice picks, wide rolling scars, and shallow boxcar scars) often requires a combination approach: subcision and fillers for the deepest scars, laser resurfacing for overall texture, and possibly punch excision for the most stubborn ones. A comprehensive treatment plan like this can easily exceed $10,000 over the course of a year or more.
Geographic location plays a major role too. Providers in New York City or Los Angeles charge substantially more than those in smaller cities. The clinician’s expertise matters as well, and this is one area where paying more often translates to better outcomes. Acne scar treatment is technically demanding, and results vary significantly based on who performs the procedure.
Many clinics offer package pricing when you book multiple sessions upfront, which can reduce the per-session cost by 10 to 20 percent. Some also offer financing plans that let you spread payments over several months. If you’re weighing your options, ask for a consultation (many are free or low-cost) where a provider can assess your specific scars and give you a realistic estimate for the full treatment course rather than just the price of a single visit.