Severe neck scarring: A consequence of fractional CO2 laser resurfacing

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing using aggressive treatment parameters may result in adverse effects comparable to those of fully ablative CO2 laser resurfacing. A 45-year-old female underwent fractional CO2 laser treatment of the neck. She contacted the author for treatment of the marked erythema, swelling, and perceived skin tightness that resulted from the resurfacing procedure. This case report describes how the author treated these complications, provides a plausible explanation for why they occurred, and recommends treatment modifications to minimize the risk of their occurrence.