Variable pulse erbium:YAG laser skin resurfacing of perioral rhytides and side-by-side comparison with XXXX laser.

@entity1 @entity4182 @entity2318 @entity2117 @entity515 @entity86 @entity158 @entity544
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Laser resurfacing of facial rhytides has become a popular treatment option for many @entity1 with wrinkles, photoaging, and acne @entity2318 . Laser wavelength/pulse duration options and new techniques continue to shorten the healing phase associated with laser skin resurfacing while maintaining clinical efficacy. Variable pulse erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) laser systems are now available that offer the surgeon the ability to vary the Er:YAG pulse duration from a pulse that is primarily ablative to one that is more thermal. The objective of this study was to evaluate the histologic effects created with a variable pulse Er:YAG laser. To study prospectively the clinical effects on upper lip rhytides with a variable pulse Er:YAG laser when compared side by side with pulsed @entity544 ( @entity515 ) laser resurfacing. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two treatment sites on 21 @entity1 were randomized and evaluated after treatment of the upper lip region with @entity515 laser resurfacing on one side and a variable pulse Er:YAG laser on the other. @entity1 diaries were maintained to assess erythema, crusting, @entity158 , and pigmentary changes. Blinded objective grading of improvement was performed. Chromometer measurements were obtained to analyze erythema. RESULTS: The variable pulse Er:YAG laser treatment reduced the duration of crusting on average from 7.7 days with @entity515 to 3.4 days. Chromometer measurements noted @entity86 . Grading by physicians in a blinded manner showed 63% improvement for the @entity515 treatment site and 48% improvement in the variable pulse Er:YAG site. No cases of permanent @entity2117 , @entity4182 , or @entity2318 occurred. CONCLUSION: The variable pulse Er:YAG laser resurfacing is a safe and effective resurfacing tool, which combines ablative and thermal modalities. The protocol used in this study approaches but does not equal the results we have traditionally seen with @entity515 laser resurfacing.
