title: The gold standard for decortication of rhinophyma: combined erbium-YAG/CO2 laser.
abstract: Rhinophyma is a benign condition of the nose that often is severely disfiguring and occasionally causes functional problems. A considerable proportion of the patients, with rhinophyma are elderly with chronic medical problems. Electrocautery, heated scalpel, carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser, argon laser, Weck blade, dermabrasion, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, full-thickness excision, skin graft, flap reconstruction, and cold scalpel have been used either alone or in combination. All these techniques have disadvantages that are resolved by using the combined erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG)/CO(2) laser. The authors present their technique and the results from decortication of rhinophyma using a combined erbium:YAG/CO(2) laser. The technique requires only local anesthesia with a vasoconstrictor. The combination of an efficient vaporization tool consisting of the erbium:YAG laser and the CO(2) coagulation laser provides a nearly bloodless field for accurate sculpting of the nose and produces cosmetically pleasing results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Selly Oak, West Midlands, Birmingham, United Kingdom. pat28g@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Patrick K Y
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Goon
authors.forename: Milind
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.forename: Francis C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Peart
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004871:Erbium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012224:Rhinophyma / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004871:Erbium