Facial burns as a complication of office surgery lighting

Three patients underwent rhytidoplasty in an office surgical facility under dual ceiling-mounted lights. Each patient incurred a third-degree burn on the left cheek. A particular combination of a specific defective light fixture and bulb appeared to be the causative factor. The risk of burning human tissue is enhanced when epinephrine is injected for vasoconstriction and the tissue is undermined. In addition, focusing dual lights on the surgical field increases the radiant energy delivered. The maximum radiant energy safe for human tissue should not exceed 25 mW/cm2.