Laser resurfacing of the neck: a review of 48 cases

With the advent of the new sophisticated carbondioxide (CO2) laser, effective treatment of facial rhytides and pigmented lesions of the photodamaged skin has been gaining popularity. Partial and full facial skin resurfacings have been reported. However, resurfacing of the neck has been ignored or discouraged. The objective of this study is to assess the feasibility, benefits, and risks of laser resurfacing of the neck, combined with the additional resurfacing of the whole face. A total of 48 patients underwent the procedure with a high-power and short-exposure time CO2 laser (ultrapulse). Patients were evaluated and classified preoperatively. The great majority of patients had local anesthesia (topical and infiltrative) with minimal sedation. A computer pattern generator was used in all cases but one. In this paper, preoperative preparation, postoperative care, laser resurfacing techniques, and depth guidelines are discussed. Incorporating the neck with the facial resurfacing has given very satisfactory results, with minimal drawbacks.