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Full-face carbon dioxide laser resurfacing: a 10-year follow-up descriptive study
Arturo Prado1, Patricio Andrades, Stefan Danilla
1Santiago, Chile From the Division of Plastic Surgery, School of Medicine, Clinical Hospital J. J. Aguirre, University of Chile, and the Center for Health Research and Development, School of Medicine, Universidad de los Andes.
Full-face carbon dioxide laser resurfacing offers excellent initial cosmetic results, with sustained benefits in skin texture and pigmentation over 10 years. However, long-term outcomes show recurrence of wrinkles and potential disadvantages like hypopigmentation.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Plastic Surgery
- Aesthetic Medicine
Background:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing is a widely used procedure for skin rejuvenation.
- Evaluating long-term cosmetic outcomes and patient satisfaction is crucial for understanding treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare 1-, 5-, and 10-year cosmetic outcomes of full-face CO2 laser resurfacing.
- To analyze the advantages, disadvantages, and long-term results of this aesthetic procedure.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of photographic results from full-face CO2 laser resurfacing.
- Assessment of patient and surgeon satisfaction using visual analogue scales.
- Objective evaluation of post-resurfacing results using established grading and wrinkle assessment scales.
Main Results:
- 159 patients treated, with 46 completing 1-, 5-, and 10-year follow-ups.
- Good skin texture maintained by 32% (5 years) and 20% (10 years); pigmentation corrected in 22% (5 years) and 19% (10 years).
- Significant need for correction of recurrent rhytides, jowling, and skin redundancy by 5 and 10 years; permanent hypopigmentation occurred in 8.7%.
Conclusions:
- Early excellent results with CO2 laser resurfacing can be followed by demarcation lines or persistent erythema.
- Long-term advantages include maintained skin texture, fine wrinkle ablation, and pigmentation correction.
- Disadvantages noted are permanent hypopigmentation, telangiectasia, and potential accentuation of skin redundancy.
