Eyelid resurfacing.
OBJECTIVE
Laser resurfacing of eyelids was examined in a series of experiments designed to measure beam parameters, surface temperatures, ablation characteristics, thermal damage, tissue responses and clinical outcomes. These data were collected for the purpose of developing a logical basis for clinical dosimetry.


METHODS
All experiments were conducted with similar short-pulse CO(2) lasers (TruPulse, Albuquerque, NM) where the beam had been carefully characterized and calibrated. The chronological sequence examined begins with the photophysical laser/tissue interactions during the first few microsec of irradiation and ends with an evaluation of the efficacy of wrinkle reduction nine months after treatment.


RESULTS
Eyelid tissue removed by the first and second passes consisted mostly of epidermis with about 38 microm of thermal damage into the papillary dermis. Erythema resolved within four weeks and most patients experienced 70-100% wrinkle reduction by nine months.


CONCLUSIONS
A layer of contracted dermal scar tissue that replaced the thermally challenged zone in the dermis is identified as the substrate for wrinkle reduction. The data support the following dosimetry for periorbital wrinkle reduction: One pass 4-6 J/cm(2) (350-500 mJ into a 3 x 3 mm spot). A second treatment after 9-12 months may be more beneficial than a second pass.
Harris
D M
DM
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. bmcinc@earthlink.net
Fried
D
D
Reinisch
L
L
Bell
T
T
Schachter
D
D
From
L
L
Burkart
J
J
D000818:Animals; D019882:Blepharoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects; D051379:Mice; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D015595:Skin Aging; D012881:Skin Temperature; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
D002245:Carbon Dioxide