Single-Pass Carbon Dioxide Versus Multiple-Pass Er:YAG Laser Skin Resurfacing: A Comparison of Postoperative Wound Healing and Side-Effect Rates

Abstract

Skin resurfacing with single-pass CO2 or multiple-pass long-pulsed Er:YAG laser techniques yielded comparable postoperative healing times and complication profiles.

Single-Pass Carbon Dioxide Laser Skin Resurfacing Combined With Cold-Air Cooling

“…The clinical evaluation of the results demonstrated comparable postoperative healing intervals and concomitant effects. 16 The findings of our study on single-pass CO 2 laser skin resurfacing make it clear that a mild improvement of wrinkles can be achieved with single-pass CO 2 laser skin resurfacing of perioral and periorbital rhytides. In comparing the cooled and noncooled treatment areas, there was no statistically significant difference in efficacy in terms of wrinkle reduction, resolution of crusting (P=.09), or resolution of postoperative erythema (P =.17).…”

“…4,10,11 Another strategy is single-or double-pass CO 2 laser resurfacing, which has been reported to result in more rapid reepithelialization, fewer and less severe adverse effects, and good prospects of success. [12][13][14][15][16] The postoperative adverse effects of ablative wrinkle treatment are not the only important consideration in regard to patient satisfaction; preventing intraoperative pain is also a major factor. In our experience, treatment with systemic analgesics, anesthesia with topical lidocaine-prilocaine cream, infiltration anesthesia, nerve blocks, and tumescent anesthesia has been effective.…”

“…Other comparable studies have primarily used regional nerve blocks and intravenous anesthesia to reduce pain; such methods may not only necessitate the presence of an anesthesiologist, but they may also involve a procedure that in itself is rather painful. [14][15][16] The acceptance of cold-air therapy is very high among patients and physicians. To avoid problems with treatment around the eyes and nostrils, the use of nose clips and protective goggles has been shown to be extremely beneficial in terms of patient acceptance.…”

Laser Skin Resurfacing

“…In general, the side-effect profile after Er:YAG laser resurfacing is similar but less severe and more transient when compared with those experienced after CO 2 laser resurfacing [34,35,36] (Table 7.2). Postoperative erythema, lasting an average of 4.5 months, is an expected occurrence in all CO 2 laser-treated patients and is a normal consequence of the wound-healing process.…”

“…Erythema after short-pulsed Er:YAG resurfacing is comparably transient of 2-4 weeks duration [5,22]. Even after the dual-mode Er:YAG laser treatment, erythema persists beyond 4 weeks in only 6% of patients [34]. Time to re-epithelialization averages 8.5 days after multipass CO 2 laser resurfacing compared with 5.5 days after Er:YAG resurfacing [5].…”