Postoperative care following CO2 laser resurfacing: avoiding pitfalls

Facial skin resurfacing using the carbon dioxide laser has become an increasingly popular procedure. Improvements in carbon dioxide laser technology have made the procedure simpler and more reliable. However, difficulties in the postoperative period can lead to patient morbidity and physician anxiety. Common problems such as prolonged erythema, hyperpigmentation, acne, milia, dermatitis, and infection can be controlled or avoided with proper postoperative care. Less common sequela such as hypertrophic scarring and prolonged healing are often a results of errors committed in the postoperative period. The authors have performed laser resurfacing in almost 2100 patients in the last 4 years. Changes in the postoperative regimen to include no pretreatment, use of semipermeable dressings, antiviral and antibacterial prophylaxis, and early treatment with sunscreens and bleaching agents have made for a smoother recovery with more predictable results.