The skin-tightening effects of 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser on human skin: an in vivo study.
BACKGROUND
The 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser was developed to improve the removal of fat cells and to affect the underlying dermis with the aim of skin tightening. We conducted this study to evaluate whether this laser is effective in tightening the skin and causing histological alterations to dermal collagen fibers, fibroblasts, mucopolysaccharides, and elastin.


METHODS
In a 38-year-old patient who was scheduled to undergo elective abdominoplasty, we subdermally performed laser-assisted treatment with the 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser using different power settings over periods of 3 months and 1 month and prior to surgery. Postoperatively, we evaluated the skin-tightening effect through histopathologic examination.


RESULTS
On histopathology examination, the thickness of the dermis had gradually increased following the 3-month treatment with laser irradiation. In the treatment groups on the abdomen, the collagen fibers were arranged in a more parallel pattern and became denser than those in the control group. Likewise, fibroblast proliferation and the levels of mucopolysaccharides and elastin were higher in the treatment groups than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser was effective in promoting the remodeling of the dermis and the regeneration of collagen fibers. As such, the 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser could be used for skin tightening in addition to its function in lipolysis.


METHODS
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Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eulji University School of Medicine, Eulji General Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Kyung Hee
KH
Min
Ji Hoon
JH
Kim
Hyo Jin
HJ
Park
Heung Soo
HS
Chung
Chan Yeong
CY
Heo
D000328:Adult; D020405:Dermis / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*