Contact Nd:YAG laser excision of rhinophyma

Rhinophyma, an excessive hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands of the nose, results in disfigurement, occasional nasal blockage and recurrent infection. This condition is considered to be the culmination of acne rosacea and can degenerate to a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. Various surgical methods have been used to treat rhinophyma, but most have resulted in complications and poor cosmetic outcomes. Wenig and Weingarten reported four cases of rhinophyma which were successfully treated with the contact Nd: YAG laser, and this article describes my experience in use of this modality to treat a 71-year-old patient at the Eye and Ear Clinic of Charleston.