Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
Enhancement of Facial Rejuvenation Through a Combination of 1565 nm Non-Ablative Fractional Laser with 30% Supramolecular Salicylic Acid
Published on: September 27, 2024
A randomized controlled trial of fractional laser therapy and dermabrasion for scar resurfacing
J Jared Christophel1, Courtney Elm, Bart T Endrizzi
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. jjc3y@virginia.edu
Background:
Dermabrasion has been the standard resurfacing procedure for postsurgical scars, but recovery can be long. Fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser is a safe, effective tissue resurfacing modality, but no prospective trial has compared its safety or efficacy with that of dermabrasion for postsurgical scar resurfacing.
Objective:
To compare the safety and efficacy of single-treatment fractional photothermolysis with that of single-treatment dermabrasion for postsurgical scar resurfacing on the face.
Methods And Materials:
A split-scar method was used to compare fractionated CO2 laser and diamond fraise dermabrasion on postsurgical scars of the face. Primary endpoint was safety at day 0, 1 week, and 1 month. Secondary endpoint was efficacy at 3 months as measured by blinded evaluation of standardized photographs.
Results:
Safety data revealed that there was less erythema (p = .001) and bleeding (p = .001) at day 0, less erythema (p = .01) and edema (p = .046) at 1 week, and a trend toward less erythema at 1 month (p = .06) with fractionated CO2 . Efficacy data at 3 months revealed equivalent scar improvements (p = .77).
Conclusion:
Fractionated CO2 laser therapy should be considered a safe alternative for surgical scar resurfacing on the face. The safety profile exceeds that of dermabrasion, and it has a quicker clinical recovery and equivalent cosmetic efficacy.
