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. 2012 Aug;26(3):131-6.
doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1329417.

Laser resurfacing pearls

Sonia Shah  1 , Murad Alam
Affiliations

Laser resurfacing pearls

Sonia Shah et al. Semin Plast Surg. 2012 Aug.

Abstract

Ablative skin resurfacing using the carbon dioxide laser was long considered the gold standard for treatment of photoaging, acne scars, and rhytids. However, conventional full-face carbon dioxide resurfacing is associated with significant risk of side effects and a prolonged postoperative recovery period. Fractional resurfacing has recently revolutionized laser surgery by offering close to comparable results with minimal side effects and a more rapid recovery. Although fractional devices have grown in popularity, and have essentially replaced traditional resurfacing, fractional resurfacing can still be a challenging modality to control precisely due to hardware variations across comparable devices, the range of settings that can be used, and patient-specific considerations. Certain precautions and rules of thumb can reduce the risk associated with fractional resurfacing, and increase the likelihood of a good outcome.

Keywords: ablative; fractional lasers; nonablative; skin resurfacing.

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