When a character, either PC or NPC, is badly injured (in a manner that would leave clear indications of the injury once healed naturally) and is magically healed, would that magical healing prevent or remove scars?
What about existing scars in the same location, such as those that sword fighters might commonly get on their forearms.
Whilst there are no particular rules for permanent scars in Pathfinder, outside of the Scars and Wounds optional rule, it is a common trope of the setting to have battle-scarred individuals or to have a particularly impressive scar from a memorable battle.
Best Answer
Yes
There are actually optional rules for receiving scars under the Scars and Wounds optional rule which is used in conjunction with the Massive Damage optional rule.
The scar/wound is randomly determined and can be quite severe. There are results for minor (cosmetic), moderate and major scars which might have associated social check modifiers as well as rules for losing entire limbs.
Even if you are not using this optional rule, which you may well not be as it only kicks in if a character receives 50+ damage in one go, the idea that scars do accrue over time and can be healed by magic is supported by the History of Scars achievement.
From this it is clear that characters can accrue cosmetic scars (even if the mechanics are not defined) and that magical healing does undo them to some extent. In fact, excess magical healing can seem to undo them completely.
Otherwise, this seems to be something largely for the players and their GM to agree on.