Collagen thermal damage and collagen synthesis after cutaneous laser resurfacing.
OBJECTIVE
Objectively measure and compare postoperative collagen thermal damage and subsequent new collagen synthesis after cutaneous laser resurfacing using two carbon dioxide laser systems.


METHODS
We created 240 resurfacing wounds on eight piglets with scanned and short-pulsed lasers using the manufacturer's suggested settings. The wounds varied with respect to the number of laser passes and postoperative survival times. Samples were harvested for histological analysis.


RESULTS
The scanned laser resulted in an average of 52% more collagen thermal damage on the day of surgery (P < 0.0001) and an average of 78% more thermal damage 3 days postoperative (P < 0.0001) than the short-pulsed laser. The amount of new collagen synthesis correlated with the amount of thermal damage, with the scanned laser wounds showing 44% greater new collagen synthesis than the short-pulsed laser wounds on postoperative day 7 (P < 0.0001) and 48% greater new collagen synthesis on postoperative day 14 (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the short-pulsed laser, the scanned laser results in a greater depth of collagen thermal damage with a correspondingly greater depth of new collagen synthesis after cutaneous resurfacing.
Kuo
T
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center for Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2559, USA.
Speyer
M T
MT
Ries
W R
WR
Reinisch
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003094:Collagen