title: Maximizing benefits and minimizing risk with CO2 laser resurfacing.
abstract: Laser resurfacing using the high-energy, pulsed and scanned CO2 laser produces the most dramatic improvement in severe photo-induced facial rhytides and deeply atrophic scars. More recently, the use of short- and long-pulsed erbium lasers in conjunction with CO2 laser resurfacing has been shown to speed healing by removing the upper layer of thermally induced necrotic tissue. The Er:YAG lasers are more superficial ablative tools that inflict less residual thermal damage on the tissue, thus allowing healing to occur without the requisite internal clearance of excessive debris. With continued research and advances in laser surgery, cutaneous resurfacing will be further enhanced with improved outcomes and lessened morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Associates of San Diego, Inc., Division of Dermatology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012060:Rejuvenation; D015361:Rhytidoplasty / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide