Nonablative fractional resurfacing in the male patient

Skin resurfacing can be divided into nonablative, nonablative fractional, ablative fractional, and traditional ablative categories. Nonablative technologies have yielded inconsistent and unimpressive results, whereas ablative technologies, although generally clinically effective, are losing momentum as a result of prolonged recovery times, risks for hypopigmentation, limitation in lighter skin types, and the production of unnatural sheen and texture to the skin. Fractional resurfacing can produce the safety of nonablative technologies and the efficacy of traditional ablative resurfacing. Nonablative fractional resurfacing is the most widely studied of fractional technologies allowing for nonablative tissue coagulation, creation of microthermal zones, and resurfacing with extrusion and replacement of damaged tissue with rapid re-epithelialization. This article will review nonablative fractional resurfacing with 1550-nm laser in the male patient.