Smarter scar care, on your schedule.
Post-surgical scars tell a story. Our job is to soften the chapter breaks. NOVA: Smooth & Silk are two focused scar treatment protocols that utilize multiple proven modalities—microneedling, PRP (platelet-rich plasma), non-ablative 1064 nm laser, and fractional Erbium 2940 nm laser — to support collagen rebuilding, refine texture, and even color with realistic downtime. It’s precise, measured care from a team that treats scars every day in Pittsburgh.
The science, straight up.
NOVA: Smooth & Silk is a two-phase protocol designed to help surgical scars heal and mature in a more refined way. It includes NOVA: Silk for early scars and NOVA: Smooth for later-stage scars. Each phase is tailored to what your body is actually doing during scar healing.
Silk is recommended for newer scars, typically between 3–8 weeks after surgery. At this stage, your body is actively building early collagen (Type III), which forms the initial structure of the scar. The stronger, more permanent collagen (Type I) is just beginning to take over.
If Type I collagen doesn’t organize efficiently, scars can widen or appear thin and atrophic. If early collagen (Type III) doesn’t receive the signals to go away, it may persist longer than it should, contributing to thicker or raised scars. Early scars are still highly responsive — which makes this the ideal time to guide them.
Silk combines microneedling with PRP (or other growth factors). Microneedling creates tiny controlled channels in the scar that encourage the cells responsible for collagen to reorganize more effectively. PRP — made from your own concentrated platelets — delivers growth factors that support balanced healing and clearer signals during this transition phase.
Silk can be repeated through the early remodeling window, usually up to about 12 weeks, while the scar is still actively maturing.
Smooth is designed for scars 12 weeks and beyond — including scars that are months or even years old. At this stage, the goal shifts from guiding formation to refining structure.
Two complementary lasers are used:
Together, these technologies help flatten raised areas, smooth irregular texture, and blend the scar more naturally with surrounding skin. We adjust the balance between vascular calming and structural remodeling depending on the scar’s maturity. Newer scars often benefit from more redness control. Older scars may require more textural refinement.
Two tools. One goal: a flatter, smoother, more blended scar over time.
Scars don’t heal all at once — they evolve. Early scars need guidance. Mature scars need remodeling. Treating them the same way ignores the biology.
By working with your body’s natural timeline instead of against it, we help scars mature more predictably, and often more attractively.
Important note: Scar care guides maturation; it doesn’t erase history. We’ll show you what’s possible and what isn’t before we begin.
Targeted zones, tidy gains.
Common regions include C-section and abdominoplasty scars, breast augmentation or lift scars (inframammary, periareolar), facelift/neck lift incisions (pre/post-auricular, submental), liposuction entry points, and select orthopedic or laparoscopic sites. If a scar crosses sun-exposed areas (neck, chest), we’ll time sessions around seasons and sunscreen habits.
Smart candidacy, better outcomes.
Good candidates are healthy adults with fully closed incisions who want to improve the look and feel of a surgical or traumatic scar. We avoid treatment over open wounds, active skin infections, or if you’ve had recent isotretinoin. Pregnancy is a pause. A personal or family history of keloids or aggressive hypertrophic scarring means we’ll adjust the plan or recommend other options. Bring your surgical timeline or let us handle the work; we’ll align care with where your scar sits in the maturation curve.
Under the hood, gently.
You’ll arrive with clean skin. We start with photos when helpful for tracking, then tailor the visit based on where your scar is in its healing timeline.
If you’re in the early window (NOVA: Silk): We apply topical numbing, perform a small blood draw, and prepare your PRP. Microneedling is then performed across and just around the scar at a depth appropriate for that tissue. We then select the right growth factor for you.
For most patients, PRP is our preferred choice. Because it comes directly from your own blood, it delivers a full spectrum of naturally balanced growth factors, including PDGF, TGF-β, and VEGF, that support healthy scar remodeling.
In some cases, patients may prefer – and we may also incorporate – a topical biologic cosmetic serum during treatment.
Neither of these options are a substitute for PRP, but can be used in situations where patients cannot perform a blood draw, or wish to utilize them instead of PRP. We then finish with a calming barrier layer, a simple sun-protection plan, and clear aftercare instructions.
If you’re treating a mature scar (NOVA: Smooth): we shift from guiding early healing to refining what has already formed. At this stage, the scar is structurally stable, but it may still appear red, raised, firm, or textured.
We begin with a non-ablative 1064 nm laser, which delivers gentle heat into the deeper layers of the skin without breaking the surface. This helps calm persistent redness by targeting excess vascular activity and also signals the deeper collagen to reorganize more smoothly.
If the scar feels thicker, uneven, or slightly raised, we incorporate a fractionally ablative 2940 nm Erbium laser. This laser creates precise micro-columns within the scar tissue, encouraging older, disorganized collagen to remodel and contract. Over time, this helps flatten thicker areas and smooth irregular texture so the scar blends more naturally with surrounding skin.
The balance between vascular calming and texture refinement is adjusted based on the scar’s age and characteristics. Some scars need more redness control. Others benefit from deeper structural remodeling. Many require both.
We finish with barrier support, sun-protection guidance, and clear aftercare instructions to protect the remodeling process as it continues in the weeks that follow.
The right tools, in the right order.
You’ll notice early changes, within weeks. Collagen remodeling is gradual; the bigger gains build across additional treatments as needed. Color and texture usually improve first; thickness and contour follow with consistency. We’ll map realistic goals at consult, show you how to support the process at home (SPF, barrier care, silicone sheeting, scar gel, and skin care, when appropriate), and adjust as the scar changes.
Scar care works best when it’s coordinated. We often sequence Smooth & Silk with other NOVA or illumineX™ protocols when helpful, such as pigment-focused light for surrounding sun damage or a peel away from the scar line to blend tone. If you’ve had recent surgery, we’ll time sessions with your surgeon’s clearance. The plan is personalized to your scar type, skin tone, and schedule, not a fixed template.
Care That Earns Your Trust.
Scar treatment is never one-size-fits-all. A new incision behaves differently than a mature scar, and redness, thickness, and texture each require different tools.
At PCPS, we assess timing, collagen behavior, vascularity, and skin type before building a plan. Some scars benefit from early biologic support. Others need laser refinement. Many respond best to a staged, multimodal approach that evolves as healing progresses.
No single device. No standard formula. Just guided remodeling aligned with how your scar is actually healing.
Once the incision is fully closed and your surgeon clears you, often 4–8 weeks post-op. We’ll confirm timing at your consultation and tailor the first session to the scar’s stage.
It can soften hypertrophic (raised) scars over a series. True keloids may need a different plan (e.g., topical steroid use, pressure therapy). We’ll assess and advise on the safest approach.
Yes, with careful settings and pigment-aware prep. The 1064 nm wavelength is chosen for melanin safety, and we’ll use post-care to lower PIH risk.
Usually yes. Pause 24–28 hours before and after each visit, then resume silicone or gel once the surface is intact. We’ll give exact timing during your consultations.
Yes. PRP concentrates platelets from your own blood, delivering a natural blend of growth factors, including PDGF, TGF-β, and VEGF, that coordinate collagen remodeling and tissue organization. Because it provides a full spectrum of signals, PRP remains our gold standard. Topical cosmetic serums like exosomes and peptides can be supportive, but they generally have a fraction of the autologous growth factors that PRP provides.
Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest technology and amenities to ensure your comfort and privacy during your visit. We are located in the heart of Pittsburgh and serve patients from all over the world. When you are ready to take the next step, contact us to schedule your consultation with Dr. Davila or Dr. Turer. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals of looking and feeling your best.
Pittsburgh (Main) Office
3109 Forbes Ave, Ste 500,
Pittsburgh PA 15213
Mon: 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday: 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday: 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday: 9am - 4:30pm
Friday: 8am - 4:30pm
