A randomized controlled trial of fractional laser therapy and dermabrasion for scar resurfacing.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Dermabrasion has been the standard resurfacing procedure for postsurgical scars, but recovery can be long. Fractionated carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser is a safe, effective tissue resurfacing modality, but no prospective trial has compared its safety or efficacy with that of dermabrasion for postsurgical scar resurfacing.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the safety and efficacy of single-treatment fractional photothermolysis with that of single-treatment dermabrasion for postsurgical scar resurfacing on the face.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

A split-scar method was used to compare fractionated CO2 laser and diamond fraise dermabrasion on postsurgical scars of the face. Primary endpoint was safety at day 0, 1 week, and 1 month. Secondary endpoint was efficacy at 3 months as measured by blinded evaluation of standardized photographs.

RESULTS:

Safety data revealed that there was less erythema (p = .001) and bleeding (p = .001) at day 0, less erythema (p = .01) and edema (p = .046) at 1 week, and a trend toward less erythema at 1 month (p = .06) with fractionated CO2 . Efficacy data at 3 months revealed equivalent scar improvements (p = .77).

CONCLUSION:

Fractionated CO2 laser therapy should be considered a safe alternative for surgical scar resurfacing on the face. The safety profile exceeds that of dermabrasion, and it has a quicker clinical recovery and equivalent cosmetic efficacy.

• Authors: J Jared Christophel, Courtney Elm, Bart T Endrizzi, Peter A Hilger, Brian Zelickson
• Journal: Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.] (Dermatol Surg) Vol. 38 Issue 4 Pg. 595-602 (Apr 2012) ISSN: 1524-4725 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22268699 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2012 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics

• Cicatrix (surgery)
• Dermabrasion (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Lasers, Gas (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged