[Facial wrinkles--ultrapulsed CO2 laser: alternative or supplement to surgical face lift?]

Co(2) laser resurfacing for facial rhytides

Resurfacing of facial rhytides (periorbital crow-feet wrinkles) was performed in three cases by carbon dioxide laser (Sharplan^® 1030 machine). Good to excellent results were observed. However, erythema and postinflammatory pigmentation were important side effects.

Xanthelasma palpebrarum: treatment with the ultrapulsed CO2 laser

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Due to its delicate location near the eye and the high recurrence rate, the therapy of xanthelasma palpebrarum is a difficult surgical task. Besides chemical, physical, and surgical procedures, various laser systems have been used to treat these lesions (argon laser, pulsed dye laser, and CO2 laser). This study was designed to critically evaluate the use of the ultrapulsed CO2 laser for the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report about the standardized treatment of 23 patients (52 periorbital xanthelasmas) and the results obtained after one treatment with a new generation, ultrapulsed CO2 laser (COHERENT Ultrapulse 5000C, Palo Alto, CA; 250-500 mJ; 600-900 microsec; 10,600 nm). The followup time was 10 months.

RESULTS

All lesions could be removed completely with a single laser treatment. As for side effects, only transient pigmental changes (4% hyperpigmentations, 13% hypopigmentations) and no visible scarring was observed. Three patients (13%) developed a recurrence of xanthelasma.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultrapulsed CO2 laser is an effective and safe therapeutic alternative to the hitherto described approaches.