title: Comparison of the Effectiveness of Nonablative Fractional Laser versus Pulsed-Dye Laser in Thyroidectomy Scar Prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The anterior neck is the site of open thyroidectomy and where postoperative scarring can cause distress to patients. Both fractional and pulsed-dye lasers are effective and safe methods for preventing and improving surgical scars.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the improvement in scar appearance with laser intervention during the wound healing process. We evaluated the effect of nonablative fractional and pulsed-dye lasers on fresh thyroidectomy scars.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were treated 3 times at 4-week interval with a follow-up visit at the 6(th) month. Scars were divided into 2 halves for each optional treatment. At every visit, a questionnaire evaluating the scar and patient satisfaction was completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients completed the 6-month process. The mean Vancouver Scar Scale scores improved significantly from 8.0 to 4.6 and 8.2 to 4.7 with nonablative fractional and pulsed-dye lasers, respectively (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the 2 methods (p=0.840).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There remains no consensus on the optimal treatment of scars. The present study indicates nonablative fractional and pulsed-dye lasers significantly improve scars. Nonablative fractional lasers are non-inferior to pulsed-dye lasers. Further studies are required to corroborate this finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Byul
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hwaseong, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeong Hun
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Joo
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Lee Su
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Joong
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Cicatrix; Laser therapy; Pulsed-dye laser; Thyroidectomy