Minimizing skin cancer surgical scars using ablative fractional Er:YAG laser treatment

Scars from skin cancer surgery on the face can be quite prominent and not easily obscured by makeup. This report evaluates the use of an ablative fractional Er:YAG laser device for minimizing or blending scar lines in two patients who underwent repair of skin cancer defects on the face.

Two patients underwent surgery to remove facial skin cancer tumors. The resulting scars after reconstruction of these skin cancer defects on the left cheek (Case 1) and right cheek (Case 2) each received 3 treatments with a fractional ablative laser device (ProFractional-XC, Sciton, Inc., Palo Alto, CA). Treatments were spaced about 1 month apart. Topical anesthetic cream applied 1 hour before treatment minimized patient discomfort during the procedure. Treatment depths ranged from 150 to 200 microns, 2 passes were performed, and coverage per pass was typically 22% and then 11% in the coagulation mode. Results were evaluated by digital photography before the initial treatment, approximately 4-5 weeks after each of the 3 treatments, and at approximately 7 months after the surgical procedures.

The fractional Er:YAG laser device significantly improved postsurgical scar lines in each patient without significant adverse effects. Prior to the laser sessions, these scars demonstrated hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, neovascularization, or diminished pore structures compared to the surrounding skin. These pigmentary, vascular or textural issues were all significantly improved by the fractional ablative Er:YAG laser.

The ablative fractional laser device of the present report safely minimizes and improves facial scars demonstrating not only textural alterations but also some pigmentary and vascular changes after reconstruction of skin cancer defects.