At-home devices use much lower energy levels than professional equipment due to safety regulations, which means they're significantly less effective for actual scar remodeling. They might provide very minimal improvement for very mild scarring, but for moderate to severe scars, they're unlikely to produce noticeable results. Professional treatment uses medical-grade equipment with appropriate energy levels to actually penetrate deep enough to remodel scar tissue. Many people end up spending money on at-home devices first, see little to no results, and then pursue professional treatment anyway, essentially spending more money overall.