Treatment of Upper Lip Wrinkles: A Comparison of the Sharplan SilkTouch Carbon Dioxide Laser with Ellman Radiosurgery

Abstract

Introduction: High energy pulsed, or computer-scanned, continuous-wave carbon dioxide (CO2) laser has become a popular tool for wrinkle treatment because it causes minimal thermal injury and the tissue vaporization depth can be precisely controlled. Radiosurgery for this purpose has been used to a lesser extent, but is also beneficial for the treatment of facial wrinkles. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness and side effect profile of the Sharplan SilkTouch CO2 laser with those of the Ellman Surgitron FFPF radiosurgery unit in the treatment of upper lip wrinkles and is, to our knowledge, the first study to compare a CO2 laser with high-frequency radiosurgery for this purpose. Methods: Twenty female subjects with moderate to severe upper lip wrinkles were randomly treated with the SilkTouch CO2 laser on one side of the upper lip and radiosurgery on the other side. Results: The average laser-treated wrinkle score (0 = none to 5 = severe) decreased from 4.05 ± 0.2 before treatment to 1.6 ± 0.23 after treatment. The average radiosurgery-treated wrinkle score decreased from 4.2 ± 0.18 to 2.6 ±0.2 after treatment. The degree to which wrinkle score improved after laser treatment compared with radiosurgery treatment was statistically significant (P < .0051). Conclusion: Treatment with CO2 laser resulted in greater improvement of upper lip wrinkles than did treatment with radiosurgery.