Microresurfacing Using the Variable-Pulse Erbium:YAG Laser: A Comparison of the 0.5- and 4-ms Pulse Durations

Abstract

Microresurfacing is an effective and well-tolerated procedure. Benefits include its tolerability under topical anesthesia, limited down time, and high patient satisfaction.

Multiple minimally invasive Erbium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet laser mini‐peels for skin rejuvenation: an objective assessment

“…These findings are in agreement with the study by Christian, 10 which investigated the changes in elastic fibers and collagen expression in response to Er:YAG 2940 nm using Verhoeff‐van Gieson and Mason trichrome stains. The author reported increased and organized elastic fibers 1–2 months post‐treatment, while on the other hand, collagen expression showed an accentuation of the horizontal bands in the upper papillary dermis at the end of Er:YAG mini‐peels treatment.…”

“…At the end of multiple Er:YAG 2940 nm mini‐peel treatments (six sessions at 2‐week intervals), clinical evaluation of volunteers revealed a significant ( P ≤ 0.05) but short‐term improvement in skin tightening, texture and wrinkles, as well as in volunteers’ overall satisfaction that was statistically significantly decreased 3 months post‐treatment ( P ≤ 0.05). These findings are consistent with the study by Christian, 10 which reported that five of six females treated with eight sessions every 4–6 weeks using Er:YAG 2940 nm laser (7 J/cm 2 with single pass per session) showed good clinical improvement at the end of treatment. Additionally, Kunzi‐Rapp et al.…”

“…Although Erbium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) laser 2940 nm is used primarily for ablative rejuvenation, it has also been reported as a minimally invasive method for skin resurfacing 9 . Microresurfacing, also known as mini‐peels, is a technique that employs the use of Er:YAG laser at pulse fluences below the ablation threshold, “subablative or thermal mode,” to increase the temperature in the upper dermal layers without epidermal ablation 10 . The use of multiple passes of Er:YAG laser would build up residual heat in tissues, resulting in a zone of thermal injury to the dermal layer with subsequent denaturation of collagen fibrils 11,12 .…”

Periorbital Rejuvenation with Fractional 1,550-nm Ytterbium/Erbium Fiber Laser and Variable Square Pulse 2,940-nm Erbium:YAG laser in Asians: A Comparison Study

“…6,7 The degree of epidermal and dermal tissue coagulation depends on factors such as pulse energy and density, which are varied according to the objective of treatments. [12][13][14][15][16] Histologic study showed more elastin fibers and accentuation of collagen, [12][13][14] but the traditional short-pulse (SP) erbium pulse durations of 250 ls operates in an almost purely ablative mode, with only a thin layer of thermal damage, no immediate wound contraction, and less collagen contraction, thus producing less-impressive clinical improvement of facial rhytides than CO 2 laser systems. In previous studies, fractional 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber lasers were safe and effective in the treatment of facial and nonfacial photodamaged skin, including wrinkles and pigmentation.…”

Evaluation of a combined laser‐radio frequency device (Polaris WR) for the nonablative treatment of facial wrinkles

“…Individuals continue to seek a more permanent reduction in skin wrinkling not attainable with various skin ''fillers''. Many technologies have shown improvement in skin wrinkles/texture, including Coblation (1), laser (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) and chemical ablative technologies, longer wavelength devices (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) and intense pulsed light (IPL) (17,18). Treatment results vary depending on the clinical situation, operator experience and patient compliance.…”