Treatment of facial burn scars with CO2 laser resurfacing and thin skin grafting.
BACKGROUND
Facial burns are very common and have significant clinical impact. Facial scars are easily recognized in the community and become a source of lifelong guilt, shame, and regret for the patients. In the presented clinical study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CO2 laser resurfacing and thin skin grafting for burn scars of face.


METHODS
Sixteen white men, whose ages ranged from 20 to 26 years (mean, 22 y), were operated on for elimination of facial burn scars. Burn areas were de-epithelialized by CO2 laser. Each area was grafted with a split-thickness skin graft. The follow-up period for these patients ranged from 3 to 15 months, with a mean follow-up period of 9 months.


RESULTS
The scars were successfully treated and converted to a socially acceptable appearance. The color match was good or excellent in all patients. No new hypertrophic scar developed.


CONCLUSIONS
Facial burn scars may be dermabraded in a short time, and a bloodless and smooth raw surface may be created by a flashed-scanned CO2 laser. The CO2 laser resurfacing and thin skin grafting method is effective in treating facial burn scars.
Sever
Celalettin
C
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burn Unit, Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. drcsever@hotmail.com
Uygur
Fatih
F
Kulahci
Yalcin
Y
Oksuz
Sinan
S
Sahin
Cihan
C
Yuksel
Fuat
F
D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002245:Carbon Dioxide