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Pulsed carbon dioxide and erbium-YAG laser resurfacing: a comparative clinical and histologic study
1Georgetown University Medical School, Center for Laser Surgery, Washington, DC, USA.
Background:
The recent introduction of pulsed erbium-YAG (Er:YAG) laser technology has been accompanied by relatively few clinical studies with widely varying claims regarding post-operative healing, clinical side effects and efficacy.
Objective:
The aim was to evaluate comparatively pulsed CO2 and Er:YAG lasers with regard to clinical side effects, post-operative healing and efficacy when equivalent depths of histologic damage were produced.
Methods:
Bilateral periocular or perioral sites were treated using a pulsed CO2 laser on one side and a pulsed Er:YAG laser on the opposite side. Attempts were made to produce equivalent depths of coagulation (CO2) and ablation (erbium).
Results:
Results showed almost equivalent post-operative healing. However, the pulsed CO2 laser proved more effective in the treatment of moderate and deep rhytids.
Conclusion:
When equivalent depths of coagulation and ablation are compared, the healing time is similar. CO2 proved to be more efficacious in the treatment of perioral and periocular rhytids.
