Consultations for Tethered Scars

Tethered scars can form when the skin becomes anchored to deeper tissues by fibrous bands during the healing process.
These can create visible surface irregularities, such as dimpling, pitting, or uneven texture – which vary in depth, location, and severity.

A Consultation for Tethered Scars at Shellharbour Skin is designed to help you understand the underlying causes of these changes, how they differ from other types of scars, and what medically supervised options may be considered to support skin structure.

Understanding Tethered Scars

Scars develop as part of the body’s natural healing process. In some cases, fibrous tissue connects the upper layers of the skin to deeper layers, restricting normal movement and creating depressions on the surface.

Several factors can contribute to tethering, including:

Type of injury or inflammation – for example, cystic acne or surgical wounds.

Depth of tissue damage – deeper injury may lead to more pronounced tethering.

Genetic and healing variations – skin type, pigmentation, and immune response all influence scar formation.

Lifestyle factors – smoking, poor nutrition, or excessive sun exposure may affect collagen repair and tissue resilience.

Understanding these mechanisms helps patients make informed choices about whether clinical management is appropriate and what factors can be optimised through at-home care or medical support.

Approach Discussions

Following your assessment, your clinician may outline management or educational pathways tailored to your situation.

These discussions are designed to build understanding, not to promote any specific procedure.

Topics may include:

• Observation and monitoring: When no immediate intervention is required, especially for scars that are stable or improving naturally.
• Skin and scar health optimisation: Strategies to support barrier function, hydration, and collagen balance through home care and protective measures.
• Professional skin treatments: Discussion of energy-based or resurfacing modalities (such as Alma C02 laser or microneedling options) that may assist in improving texture and tone, depending on clinical suitability.
• Medically directed or prescribed approaches: Where appropriate, your clinician may discuss procedures performed under medical supervision that address deeper tethering beneath the skin’s surface.
  These are undertaken only following an in-person medical assessment and informed consent, and cannot be named or advertised publicly under AHPRA and TGA regulations.
• Collaborative or referred care: In some cases, scar management may benefit from input from dermatology, plastic surgery, or allied health professionals.

Your clinician will explain the reasoning behind any recommendations, discuss potential risks, and provide clear aftercare information to support safe and informed decision-making.

Your Consultation at Shellharbour Skin

Your consultation includes a comprehensive review of your scar type, skin health, and medical background.
During this appointment, your clinician will:

• Assess the scar’s location, depth, and characteristics.
• Review your medical history, allergies, and medications.
• Discuss contributing factors such as acne, trauma, or previous treatments.
• Outline safe, clinically appropriate options for management.
• Provide time to ask questions and clarify your understanding before any decision is made.

All consultations are conducted under medical supervision, ensuring that care aligns with evidence-based practice and patient safety.

After-Consultation Considerations

If a clinical management plan is discussed, your clinician will provide written guidance covering:

• Expected recovery timelines and follow-up recommendations.
• Temporary effects that may occur following treatment, such as mild redness, swelling, or tenderness.
• Safe skincare and sun-protection strategies to support healing.
• When to contact the clinic for follow-up or review.

You are encouraged to take time to review this information before making any decision

Risks and Precautions

All aesthetic and medical procedures carry potential risks. Common temporary effects may include redness, bruising, or swelling. Less common risks can include infection, pigmentation changes, or tenderness. Your clinician will discuss these in detail during consultation to ensure informed consent.

Cost and Planning

Consultation fees vary depending on the time required and complexity of your assessment.

Any further treatment planning or cost estimates are discussed only after your consultation and once clinical suitability has been confirmed. Written information and pricing are always provided before any procedure proceeds.

Important Information

• Shellharbour Skin provides consultations for assessment, education, and management planning only.
  
• We do not advertise or promote prescription-only products or specific medical devices.
  
• All care is delivered within a medically supervised environment following a full health assessment and informed consent process.
  
• This information is provided for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.

Practitioner Transparency

Consultations and skin treatments at Shellharbour Skin are provided by a multidisciplinary clinical team:

Dermal Clinicians – qualified skin professionals who are not registered under AHPRA but hold tertiary qualifications in dermal science or dermal therapies. They provide skin treatments and consultations within their professional scope and under clinical supervision.

Registered Nurses – AHPRA-registered health practitioners who perform skin and aesthetic treatments within their clinical training and scope of practice.

Medical Practitioners – AHPRA-registered doctors experienced in skin health and aesthetic medicine who oversee and support all clinical services.

All treatments are undertaken within a medically supervised environment, ensuring that each patient pathway is reviewed for clinical suitability, safety, and evidence-based care.

You can verify registration for medical practitioners and nurses at ahpra.gov.au

Ultrasound-Assisted Consultations  

Ultrasound imaging is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool in aesthetic medicine.

At Shellharbour Skin, this consultation is designed to provide a detailed, visual understanding of tissue structure beneath the skin, helping clinicians make informed, evidence-based decisions about your care.

Rather than focusing on a specific procedure, this service centres on assessment and education, helping you understand what may be occurring beneath the surface following previous cosmetic treatments and how this information can guide safe future planning.