| Title | Full-face carbon dioxide laser resurfacing: a 10-year follow-up descriptive study. | | Author(s) | Prado A, Andrades P, Danilla S, Benitez S, Reyes S, Valenzuela G, Guridi R, Fuentes P | | Institution | Division of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Clinical Hospital J. J. Aguirre, University of Chile. pradoplast@yahoo.com | | Source | Plast Reconstr Surg 2008 Mar; 121(3):983-93. | | MeSH | Adult
Aged
Face
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Laser Therapy
Lasers, Gas
Middle Aged
Rejuvenation
Retrospective Studies
Skin Aging
| | Abstract | BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to retrospectively compare the 1-, 5-, and 10-year cosmetic outcomes of full-face carbon dioxide laser resurfacing using the SilkTouch technology, and analyze its advantages, disadvantages, and long-term results.
METHODS: Photographic results of full-face carbon dioxide laser resurfacing were evaluated after 1, 5, and 10 years. Statistical analysis considered surgeon and patient satisfaction based on a predetermined cosmetic visual analogue scale. Patients and two plastic surgeons unfamiliar with the cases evaluated objective postresurfacing results using Beausang's grading system and a modified wrinkle assessment scale.
RESULTS: One hundred fifty-nine patients were treated and 46 patients completed 1-, 5-, and 10-year follow-up. Combined aesthetic procedures to the full-face carbon dioxide resurfacing were transcutaneous upper lid/lower lid transconjunctival blepharoplasty and endoscopic brow lifts in 15 patients. After 1 year, some relapse occurred, but the overall aesthetic result remained very good. At 5 and 10 years, respectively, 32 and 20 percent of the sample maintained good-quality skin texture; 22 and 19 percent achieved correction of skin pigmentation without scars; and 88 and 98 percent needed correction of recurrent rhytides, jowling, and redundant skin. Permanent hypopigmentation was found in four cases (8.7 percent).
CONCLUSIONS: The authors' early experience with the carbon dioxide laser was excellent, but after 1 year, they noticed lines of demarcation between treated and nontreated skin or persistent erythema. After 5 and 10 years, advantages were maintenance of good skin texture, ablation of fine wrinkles, and long-term correction of skin pigmentation. Disadvantages included permanent hypopigmentation of the mandible-neck junction, telangiectasia, and possible accentuation of skin redundancy. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 18317147 |
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