Surgical scar repair is usually recommended when there is significant damage to the underlying tissues, such as keloids (large raised areas of scarring), hypertrophic scars (raised, thickened scars), or deep wounds. However, nonsurgical scar repair (such as laser scar treatments) may be used instead of surgery if the patient prefers this option, which is usually preferred for acne scar removal and cases of patches with uneven skin tones.