Fractional laser resurfacing.(LASER AND COSMETIC NEWS) (Article)

Fractional laser resurfacing.(LASER AND COSMETIC NEWS) (Article)
July 2007
Thomson Gale
Published in: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
Issue Number: 7
Volume Number: 6
Date Published: 01 July 2007
Language: English
Word Count: 1103
Price: EURƒ 75.00

Abstract:

Laser and Cosmetic News covers the latest advances in laser surgery, light technology, phototherapy, and cosmetic surgery. New and emerging therapies, noteworthy publications, and exciting meeting developments will be highlighted. Controversies and opinions about the future in this field will be addressed. The aim of this column is to keep you abreast of the cutting edge in laser and cosmetic surgery.

As a midway approach to laser skin resurfacing that falls between ablative and nonablative laser resurfacing, fractional laser resurfacing has rapidly evolved over the past 3 years with the emergence of many variations and competitors. Ablative laser resurfacing developed 2 decades ago with C[O.sub.2] lasers and subsequently the Er:YAG lasers, providing excellent treatment efficacy for rhytides and photoaging, but with a 3-week recovery period and a small but significant risk of side effects and complications. This spurred the development of nonablative technologies over the past decade, including infrared lasers, intense pulsed light, and radiofrequency devices, which provided the highly desirable alternative of extremely rapid treatment and recovery coupled with minimal risk, but with only modest improvement. In an effort to augment efficacy while maintaining an excellent safety profile, fractional laser resurfacing emerged whereby a ...