Postabdominoplasty Scar Improvement after a Single Session with an Automated 1210-nm Laser

Abstract

Abdominoplasty, one of the most commonly performed aesthetic procedures, aims at correcting excess abdominal skin and fat, but generates a long abdominal scar. The efficacy of an automated portative 1210-nm laser in improving the appearance of surgical scars has been previously demonstrated in a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The purpose of this work was to document the use of this laser in real-life practice.

Methods: Eighteen patients undergoing abdominoplasty and treated with the evaluated laser (UrgoTouch, Laboratoires Urgo; one single session immediately after the surgery) were included in this prospective, mono-center, observational study. Change in scar characteristics was assessed using the validated Observer Scar Assessment Scale, and the patients' and surgeon's satisfaction was rated using a four-point scale.

Results: The aesthetic outcome of the scars was very positive with a mean Observer Scar Assessment Scale score of 17.0 (SD 4.6) and 14.4 (SD 3.8) on the 6-60 point scale (60: the worst possible outcome) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. A high degree of satisfaction was also expressed by both surgeon and patients at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. No laser-related incident was reported during the study, including in patients with darker phototypes.

Conclusions: These findings seem to be consistent with previous clinical evidence on the use of this laser on fresh incisions. The high degree of satisfaction reported by both surgeon and patients seems to comfort the benefits of this procedure at short- and long-term and support the use of this laser in daily practice of plastic surgery.

Fig. 1.

Photographs of the abdominal scar appearance over the course of the study period. A, Full abdominal scar of patient 4 at 6 weeks. B, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 4 at 6 weeks. C, Full abdominal scar of patient 4 at 12 months. D, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 4 at 12 months. E, Full abdominal scar of patient 10 at 6 weeks. F, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 10 at 6 weeks. G, Full abdominal scar of patient 10 at 6 months. H, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 10 at 6 months. I, Full abdominal scar of patient 13 at 6 weeks. J, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 13 at 6 weeks. K, Full abdominal scar of patient 13 at 12 months. L, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 13 at 12 months. M, Full abdominal scar of patient 18 at 8 weeks. N, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 18 at 8 weeks. O, Full abdominal scar of patient 18 at 10 months. P, Close-up on the central third of the scar of patient 18 at 10 months.

Fig. 2.

Close-up photographs of some details of the abdominal scars, 12-months after the surgery and the laser treatment. A, Close-up photograph of details of the abdominal scar area of patient 2 at 12 months. B, Close-up photograph of details of the abdominal scar area of patient 2 at 12 months. C, Close-up photograph of details of the abdominal scar area of patient 17 at 12 months. D, Close-up photograph of details of the abdominal scar area of patient 17 at 12 months.