Side effects and complications of variable-pulsed erbium:yttrium- XXXX -garnet laser skin resurfacing: extended experience with 50 @entity1 .

@entity1 @entity3775 @entity4182 @entity2318 @entity2117 @entity86 @entity544
Recent advances in technology have provided laser surgeons with new options for cutaneous laser resurfacing. Despite its popularity, there is limited information on the short-term and long-term side effects and complications of variable-pulsed erbium:yttrium- @entity3775 -garnet (erbium:YAG) laser skin resurfacing. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate postoperative wound healing, side effects, and complications of multiple-pass, variable-pulsed erbium:YAG laser skin resurfacing for facial photodamage, rhytides, and @entity2318 . Fifty consecutive @entity1 with facial photodamage, rhytides, or @entity2318 were treated with a variable-pulsed erbium:YAG laser. Side effects and complications relating to @entity86 , erythema, and pigmentary changes were tabulated. @entity1 were evaluated at postoperative days 3 through 7 and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after laser skin resurfacing. The average time for reepithelialization was 5.1 days. Prolonged erythema (>1 month) was observed in three @entity1 (6 percent). Transient @entity2117 occurred in 20 @entity1 (40 percent), with an average duration of 10.4 weeks. No cases of @entity4182 or @entity2318 were seen. In summary, a variable-pulsed erbium:YAG laser can safely be used for the treatment of facial photodamage, rhytides, and @entity2318 . Although more postoperative erythema is seen after variable-pulsed erbium:YAG laser treatment than is usually produced with a short-pulsed erbium:YAG system, the side-effect profile and recovery period after variable-pulsed erbium:YAG laser skin resurfacing still are more favorable than after multiple-pass @entity544 laser skin resurfacing.
