Subcision Treatment London
Releasing Tethered Scars and Dimpling
200,000
Satisfied patients
Trusted by patients across the UK for medical & aesthetic care
CQC rated Good
Inspected April 2026: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led
Save Face Accredited Clinic
Committed to safer aesthetic treatments
27 years
Of Clinical Experience
Established in 1999
Treatment at a glance
Key details you may want to know before booking.
Treatment time
40-60 Minutes
ANAESTHETIC
Local anaesthetic
DOWNTIME
Bruising and swelling common for 1–2 weeks
RESULTS TIMELINE
Permanent
SUITABLE FOR
Acne scars, C-section and surgical scars, cellulite dimpling
Price
£450 per session
Subcision is a treatment for skin that is being pulled down from underneath. Anywhere a scar or a dimple sits lower than the skin around it, the cause is usually a band of fibrous tissue tethering it to the tissue below. Releasing that band lets the surface lift. At Bodyvie we use subcision for four things: rolling and tethered acne scarring, caesarean and other surgical scars that have adhered and sit as a shelf or an overhang, other depressed scars from injury or surgery, and cellulite dimpling on the thighs and buttocks. All of them are carried out by Dr Vadim Corjos at our Richmond and Belgravia clinics, at the same price at either.
Dr Vadim Corjos releasing a tethered caesarean scar by subcision at Bodyvie.
What is subcision?
Beneath a depressed scar or a dimple sits a band of fibrous tissue, anchoring the surface down to the layer below. No amount of treatment applied from above will lift skin that is being held from underneath.
Subcision addresses it directly. A fine needle or cannula is passed under the skin and moved to divide those bands. The surface releases, and the controlled healing response in the space created lays down new collagen, which helps hold the improvement.
It is a surgical manoeuvre performed under the skin, which is why it is worth having done by someone with a surgical background rather than as an add-on to a facial.
Who is suitable?
Subcision suits anything that is tethered rather than raised:
- Rolling and tethered acne scars, where the surface looks pulled down and uneven
- Caesarean section scars that have adhered to the tissue beneath, creating a shelf, an overhang or a pulled-in line. This is the commonest reason patients come to us for subcision
- Other depressed scars from surgery or injury, including appendix, laparoscopy and trauma scars
- Cellulite dimpling on the thighs and buttocks, where fibrous septae tether the skin into individual dimples
It is not the right treatment for raised or keloid scars, for very shallow surface marking, or for generalised skin laxity. It also does nothing for ice-pick acne scars, which are narrow and deep rather than tethered. We will tell you that at consultation rather than sell you a course of something that will not work.
Benefits of treatment
Subcision works on the cause rather than the appearance, which is why it is used for established scarring that has not responded to surface treatments.
- The scar or dimple is released rather than disguised
- New collagen forms in the space created, which helps hold the result
- Individual dimples and adhesions are treated one by one, not as a blanket area
- It combines well with resurfacing, microneedling, polynucleotides or filler, and is often planned alongside them
- Improvement builds over weeks rather than appearing immediately
The treatment process
Consultation
We start by looking closely at the type of scarring you have, as this makes a big difference to the outcome. We’ll also talk through how many sessions you may need and whether other treatments should be included.
The procedure
We carry out subcision under local anaesthetic. A fine instrument is passed under the skin to release the tethered areas. The treatment itself is usually quite quick. Most people notice pressure or movement rather than pain.
Aftercare
Bruising is expected after subcision and can be quite noticeable, especially in the first week. Swelling and tenderness are also common.
We’ll give you clear aftercare advice before you leave. If anything feels unusual during recovery, you can contact the clinic for review.
Recovery and downtime
Bruising often lasts around one to two weeks, and it can take time to fully settle. Some areas may look darker or feel firm while healing.
Most people carry on with normal daily activity quite quickly, but you will usually have visible bruising for a short period. This is often the main thing to consider before going ahead.
Results and healing
Results don’t appear straight away. The skin settles gradually, and improvement develops over the following weeks.
Subcision is usually done as part of a treatment plan rather than a single session. Deeper scars often need more than one treatment, sometimes alongside other methods.
Cost of subcision in London
The cost depends on how many scars are being treated and whether other treatments are included. This varies quite a bit between patients.
We provide a clear plan and pricing after consultation, and there is no obligation to go ahead.
Risks and considerations
Bruising and swelling are the most common side effects and should be expected. The treated areas can also feel tender for a short time.
Less common risks include infection, uneven improvement or the need for further sessions. We go through this in detail during consultation so you know what to expect.
Why choose Bodyvie
All treatments at Bodyvie are carried out by doctors, at our Richmond and Belgravia clinics. Bodyvie Medi-Clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission and rated Good. This means your care follows a medical standard, with proper assessment before any treatment is recommended.
We do not treat acne scarring with a single approach. Each case is examined carefully to understand the type of scarring present and whether subcision is likely to help.
When treatment is appropriate, it is planned based on how your scars behave rather than applied as a standard procedure. In many cases, this involves combining treatments to get a more even result over time.
You are given clear guidance after treatment and know what to expect during recovery. Follow-up is available if needed, so you are not left to manage things on your own.
Your practitioner
Subcision at Bodyvie is performed by Dr Vadim Corjos, a GMC-registered doctor (GMC number: 7822977).
He carries out both the assessment and the treatment, so decisions are based on what is seen during examination. This means your treatment is planned around how your scars behave, rather than following a fixed method.
During your consultation, your skin is assessed carefully and discussed with you in practical terms. If subcision is appropriate, it’s planned as part of a wider treatment approach where needed.
If not, this is explained clearly and alternatives are discussed. The focus is on recommending what is actually suitable, rather than treating everything in the same way.
Book your consultation
If you’re considering subcision for acne scars in London, the first step is a consultation. This allows us to assess your skin properly and decide whether this treatment makes sense in your case.
You can book online or speak with the clinic directly. Treatment is only recommended once suitability has been clearly confirmed.
Your surgeon
Subcision at Bodyvie is carried out by Dr Vadim Corjos, GMC 7822977, a cosmetic surgeon with fifteen years of surgical practice across general, trauma and reconstructive surgery. Subcision is a surgical manoeuvre performed under the skin, and releasing a caesarean scar or a tethered dimple is work that rewards a surgical background.
Dr Corjos treats at both Bodyvie clinics, Richmond at 133-135 Kew Road and Belgravia at 11A West Halkin Street, and the price is the same at either. A full profile is on the Dr Vadim Corjos page.
C-section and surgical scars
This is the most common reason patients come to us for subcision, and it is the one least often talked about.
A caesarean scar heals as a line on the surface, but underneath it can adhere to the fascia and muscle below. The result is a scar that sits pulled in, with a shelf of tissue overhanging it. Creams, massage and resurfacing do nothing for it, because the problem is the adhesion, not the skin.
Subcision releases those adhesions. The area is anaesthetised and the fibrous bands anchoring the scar are divided so the skin can lie flat again. It also helps appendix scars, laparoscopy port sites and depressed scars from injury. Scars need to be mature, usually at least six months old and often closer to a year, before treatment gives its best result.
Cellulite and dimpling
Dimpled cellulite on the thighs and buttocks is not a fat problem or a skin problem. It is a tethering problem. Fibrous septae run from the deeper tissue to the underside of the skin and pull it down into individual dimples, which is why the surface stays dimpled whatever happens to your weight.
Subcision treats each dimple individually, releasing the septum holding it. It does not treat looseness, volume or the orange-peel texture of laxity, and it is not a weight-loss treatment. Where the dimples are discrete and you can point at them, it is the technique that addresses what is actually causing them.
Acne scarring
Rolling and tethered acne scars are the classic indication. The scar looks pulled down because it is, and releasing the band underneath lets the surface lift. Ice-pick scars, which are narrow and deep rather than tethered, do not respond and are better treated another way.
What happens on the day
- Assessment of what is actually tethered, marking each scar, adhesion or dimple individually
- The area is cleaned and numbed with a few tiny injections of local anaesthetic. The injections sting briefly, like a small scratch, and that is the part most patients feel. After that you should not feel the procedure itself
- Each tethering band is released, typically 40 to 60 minutes for the appointment
- Expect bruising and swelling for one to two weeks. The bruising is part of how the technique works, not a complication of it. Aftercare is explained in writing
When subcision is not the right treatment
We will say so, rather than sell you a course, where:
- The scar is raised, hypertrophic or keloid, where releasing it is the wrong direction entirely
- The acne scars are ice-pick type, narrow and deep, which respond better to other techniques
- Acne is still active, or a surgical scar is less than six months old and still maturing
- The concern is skin laxity or volume rather than tethering, which subcision does not address
- You are taking anticoagulant medication that has not been reviewed, or are pregnant or breastfeeding
- You are under 18
Bodyvie has treated patients in London since 1999. This is a doctor-led procedure in a regulated clinical setting. Patients benefit from:
- One named doctor, Dr Vadim Corjos, GMC 7822977, who assesses you and performs the procedure himself
- A surgeon releasing surgical scars, rather than a surface treatment applied to a structural problem
- An honest answer about whether tethering is what is causing your concern
- Two London clinics, Richmond and Belgravia, at the same price
- A CQC-regulated clinical environment, not a salon setting
- A consultation fee of £50, redeemable in full against treatment
Cost
Subcision is £450 per session, whether that session treats acne scarring, a caesarean scar or cellulite dimpling. All new doctor consultations are £50 and are redeemable in full against the cost of treatment. Most patients need more than one session, and the likely number is agreed in writing at consultation rather than after you have started. The price is identical at Richmond and Belgravia.
Related reading
what our clients say
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Subcision is £450 per session at Bodyvie. The new doctor consultation is £50 and is redeemable in full against treatment. Most patients need more than one session, and the likely number is discussed and confirmed in writing at consultation rather than after you have started. The price is the same at Richmond and Belgravia.
This depends on the depth and type of scarring. Many patients need more than one session.
Bruising can last one to two weeks. Most people continue daily activities, but marks are usually visible during this time.
The area is numbed first with a few tiny injections of local anaesthetic. The injections sting briefly, like a small scratch, and for most patients that is the only part they feel. Once the anaesthetic has worked you should not feel the release itself, only pressure or movement. Bruising and swelling for one to two weeks afterwards are expected, and are part of how the technique works rather than a complication of it.
Anything tethered from underneath. Rolling and tethered acne scars, caesarean and other surgical scars that have stuck down to the tissue beneath, depressed scars from injury, and cellulite dimpling on the thighs and buttocks. It does not help raised or keloid scars, ice-pick acne scars, or general skin laxity, and we will say so at consultation.
The released scars usually don’t reattach in the same way, but overall skin quality changes over time. Further treatment is sometimes helpful.
Yes, and it often is. Subcision releases the tethering; a filler, polynucleotide or collagen-stimulating treatment can then support the released area, and resurfacing can address surface texture. Any combination is planned at consultation with the costs set out separately.
Richmond, at 133-135 Kew Road, or Belgravia, at 11A West Halkin Street. Dr Vadim Corjos treats at both and the price is identical.
This is the most common reason patients come to us for subcision. A caesarean scar that has adhered to the tissue beneath sits as a shelf, with an overhang above it and a pulled-in line at the scar itself. Releasing those adhesions lets the skin lie flat again. It is done under local anaesthetic and usually takes more than one session, agreed in writing beforehand.
For the dimpled type, yes. Cellulite dimples are caused by fibrous septae tethering the skin down to the tissue below, and releasing them lets the dimple lift. It is treated dimple by dimple rather than as a blanket area. It does not treat looseness or volume, and it is not a weight-loss treatment.
The scar needs to be fully mature, which usually means at least six months and often closer to a year. Treating too early gives a worse result. Dr Corjos will tell you at consultation whether yours is ready or whether waiting is better.
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