Jason Emer, MD, FAAD, FACS
Deep Erbium Laser For Acne Scars: How Dr. Emer Remodels Severe Scarring With Controlled Depth
How Dr. Jason Emer uses deep erbium laser to remodel severe acne scars, why it is safer for darker skin tones than CO2, and what the commitment actually looks like.
Dr. Jason Emer MD · FAAD · FACS
The practice's own photographs
Patients of the practice, from Dr. Emer's published before and after gallery. Each case is one patient. Individual results vary.
Deep erbium laser drills thousands of controlled channels through severe acne scars, forcing the skin to remodel from the inside out with lower hyperpigmentation risk than CO2 in darker skin tones.
Your plan starts with Dr. Emer.
Schedule ConsultationReserve online. West Hollywood and New York.
From the filmed session
What Dr. Emer did · RE:SKN
Ablative erbium laser creating deep channels to bleeding depth, variable speed and power adjusted by scar severity: slower and stronger in severe zones, faster in lighter areas. Water absorption reduces thermal injury and hyperpigmentation risk compared to CO2.
“As you see the bleeding, you guys, the reason this bleeding occurs is because we're going really deep. All right, these are holes that are being made in her skin to remodel her skin. And if we don't do this, she won't get that level of remodeling.”
Dr. Emer, in the film
Superficial erbium pass following deep ablation to refine surface texture and complete the remodeling protocol.
Why patients fly in
Erbium absorbs water more efficiently than CO2, delivering the depth needed to remodel severe scars while generating less heat to surrounding tissue, lowering hyperpigmentation risk in patients with darker skin.
“Herbium is much more safe for her skin tone than is the CO2 her hyperpigmentation risk and the remodeling will be more dramatic because it's less heat. Remember herbium absorbs a lot of water.”
Dr. Emer adjusts laser speed and power in real time across the face: slower, stronger and deeper in areas of severe scarring, faster in zones with lighter damage, creating a customized depth map for each patient.
Deep erbium session, lighter non-ablative or microneedling at one month, second deep session at two to three months, repeated until the goal is reached. Collagen remodels over months, and the protocol is built to support that biology.
“That's why a second treatment needs to be performed in two months as it's remodeling. At one month, you can do a lighter treatment like a non-ablative laser for example with a fraal to boost the results.”
Dr. Emer will not perform the treatment unless the patient commits to his concentrated, growth factor and stem cell skin care formulas designed to support healing and prevent pigment issues. Department store products are prohibited.
“You cannot use Sephora to help you heal here. It's a no. You cannot do treatment with me if you do that. You have to follow these protocols.”
Dr. Emer has never seen a post-laser hyperpigmentation case that did not resolve, but the protocol is designed to prevent it in the first place: the right laser, the right depth, and skin care that controls pigment during healing.
“There's still a risk always and always. I've never seen anyone that didn't go away.”
THE THINKING BEHIND THE TREATMENT
Follow Dr. Emer’s approach through the stages described in this case.
Back to the video ↗The patient in this video has scarring that sits deep in the skin and does not respond to surface treatments.
Dr. Emer is using a deep erbium laser to create thousands of controlled channels through the scar tissue, forcing the skin to remodel from the inside out. The laser drills deep enough to bleed, and the depth is adjusted based on the severity of the scarring: slower and stronger in the worst areas, faster in the lighter zones.
Severe scarring requires staged treatments, not one session. This is the protocol Dr. Emer uses to remodel deep acne scars safely.
The downtime is seven to ten days of visible peeling and crusting. The result builds over months as collagen remodels, and the plan includes staged treatments every two to three months until the skin reaches the goal.
“As you see the bleeding, you guys, the reason this bleeding occurs is because we're going really deep. All right, these are holes that are being made in her skin to remodel her skin. And if we don't do this, she won't get that level of remodeling.”DR. JASON EMER · FROM THE VIDEO
Skin care is not optional here. Dr. Emer will not perform this treatment unless the patient commits to medical-grade products designed to support healing and prevent pigment issues. That means concentrated formulas with growth factors and stem cells, not department store products with long ingredient lists and low active concentrations.
The treatment plan is staged: this deep laser session, then a lighter non-ablative laser or microneedling at one month, then another deep session at two to three months, repeated until the skin reaches the goal. One session can produce visible improvement, but severe scarring requires a series.
Severe scars need depth, not surface work / Patient story
The patient in this video has scarring that sits deep in the skin and does not respond to surface treatments.
Dr. Emer is using a deep erbium laser to create thousands of controlled channels through the scar tissue, forcing the skin to remodel from the inside out. The laser drills deep enough to bleed, and the depth is adjusted based on the severity of the scarring: slower and stronger in the worst areas, faster in the lighter zones.
The downtime is seven to ten days of visible peeling and crusting. The result builds over months as collagen remodels, and the plan includes staged treatments every two to three months until the skin reaches the goal.
The patient in this video has severe acne scarring, the kind that sits deep in the skin and does not respond to topical treatments or light resurfacing. Dr. Emer is using a deep erbium laser to create controlled channels in the skin, forcing the tissue to remodel from the inside out.
This is not a gentle treatment. The laser drills thousands of microscopic holes through the scar tissue, deep enough to bleed, and the skin rebuilds itself over the following months. The downtime is seven to ten days of visible peeling, and the result builds over time, not overnight.
Erbium absorbs water more efficiently than CO2, which means it delivers less heat to the surrounding tissue. For darker skin tones, that matters: less heat means lower risk of hyperpigmentation, the darkening that can follow aggressive laser work and sometimes lasts longer than the original scar.
Dr. Emer adjusts the depth and speed based on the severity of the scarring. In areas where the scars are deeper, he slows down and goes stronger. In areas where the scarring is lighter, he moves faster. The bleeding you see in the video is the proof of depth: the laser is reaching the layers where remodeling happens.
How the protocol is built
Severe scarring requires staged treatments, not one session. This is the protocol Dr. Emer uses to remodel deep acne scars safely.
The first deep session creates controlled channels through the scar tissue, forcing the skin to remodel. Downtime is seven to ten days.
A non-ablative laser or microneedling session boosts collagen production while the skin is still remodeling from the first treatment.
Another deep erbium session builds on the remodeling from the first, staged to allow full healing between treatments.
The protocol continues with staged deep and light sessions until the skin reaches the result. One session can produce visible improvement, but severe scars require a series.
The treatment, explained
Also called erbium laser resurfacing, ablative erbium, erbium YAG laser, acne scar laser, deep laser resurfacing, Contour TRL.
Signature procedures
Peptides / biologic optimization
Peptide and biologic protocols for recovery, body composition and longevity, with epigenetic testing. RECODEX™ peptides are available to purchase through the practice after consultation.
Why Dr. Emer
Two decades of results, a global patient base, and laser techniques other dermatologists travel to learn.
Dr. Emer built his reputation on outcomes that require precision: severe acne scars, hyperpigmentation risk in darker skin tones, and patients who have been elsewhere and want it done right. He pioneered staged laser protocols that are now taught internationally, and he personally performs every treatment in his practice.
Patients come to him when the scar is deep, the skin is reactive, and the result has to be both aggressive and safe.
Concentrated formulas with growth factors and stem cells, designed to support healing and prevent pigment issues. Department store products are not permitted.
Collagen remodels over time, not overnight. The protocol includes deep and light sessions staged to allow full healing and continued improvement.
Seven to ten days of visible peeling and crusting after each deep session. If you want to limit downtime, you limit results.
Topical numbing is required, sometimes oral medication, and for very severe cases or full-face procedures, sedation in the operating room.
Asked plainly, answered plainly
Erbium absorbs water more efficiently than CO2, which means the laser can reach the depth needed to remodel severe scars while generating less heat to the surrounding tissue. This lowers the risk of hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones, the biggest complication of aggressive laser work. Dr. Emer has never seen a post-laser hyperpigmentation case that did not resolve, but the protocol is designed to prevent it in the first place.
Severe scarring requires staged treatments over months, not one session. The protocol typically includes a deep erbium session, a lighter non-ablative or microneedling treatment at one month, a second deep session at two to three months, and repeated cycles until the skin reaches the goal. One session can produce visible improvement, but the number of treatments is determined at consultation based on scar severity and skin type.
Seven to ten days of visible peeling and crusting after each deep erbium session, with the worst peeling around day five. The skin continues remodeling for months after treatment. If you want to limit downtime, you limit results.
Yes. Topical numbing is required, sometimes oral medication, and for very severe cases or full-face procedures, sedation in the operating room. The laser drills deep enough to bleed, and the treatment is not comfortable even with numbing.
No. Dr. Emer requires medical-grade skin care with concentrated growth factors and stem cells designed to support healing and prevent pigment issues. Department store products are not permitted, and he will not perform the treatment unless you commit to the full skin care protocol.
Visible improvement appears once the skin heals from the first deep session, but the result builds over months as collagen remodels. You cannot judge the outcome a week after treatment because the body is still rebuilding. The skin continues improving between sessions, and the final result unfolds over months.
Dr. Emer adjusts the laser speed and power in real time based on scar severity. In areas of severe scarring, the laser moves slower and stronger to create deeper channels and more heat. In lighter zones, it moves faster. This creates a customized depth map for each patient.
This is a lifestyle investment, not a one-time procedure. You must commit to staged treatments over months, medical-grade skin care, and real downtime. If you are not willing to follow the full protocol, you are not a candidate. Dr. Emer will not perform the treatment unless you understand and accept the commitment.
A consultation with Dr. Emer covers your skin type, your scar severity, and whether deep erbium laser fits your plan.
Schedule ConsultationWest Hollywood and New York City