title: The Use of a Fractional Ablative Micro-Plasma Radiofrequency Device in Treatment of Striae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a fractional ablative micro-plasma radiofrequency (RF) device in the reduction of the appearance of abdominal striae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five female patients (age range, 30-60) with abdomen striae alba (n=4) and striae rubra (n=1) were enrolled in the study. Skin type distribution among the 5 patients was two type II, one type III, and two type IVs. The device (Accent XL, Alma Lasers Inc.) is a radiofrequency fractional platform (40.68 MhZ) that deploys multiple conical pin electrodes on a moving handheld 6 cogs roller. Four treatments were performed every two weeks with settings based on test spots performed two weeks prior to a full treatment session. Assessment of striae was based on clinical severity of the lesions on a 1-4 scale, with "4" being the most severe. A questionnaire was administered to patients with possible subjective responses ranging from 0-4, with 0 being no improvement and quartiles from 1-4 (1= mild improvement, 2= fair improvement, 3= moderate improvement, and 4= marked improvement, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months after 4 treatments, a mean improvement of 20% was achieved (mean severity score changed from 2.9 to 2.5). Micro-wounds were approximately 200 μm wide on the surface, initially presenting as small gray "dots" and evolving into black dots lasting about 2 weeks. Mean pain was 2/10. Erythema and edema persisted for about one day. No pigmentation abnormalities were observed at the final evaluation. The results from the patient questionnaire revealed a mean score of 2.4/4, thus falling in the range of good to very good.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A fractional ablative micro-plasma RF roller device can improve improvement in the appearance of abdomen striae.
authors.forename: Vineet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Salman M S
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alsaad
authors.forename: E Victor
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057896:Striae Distensae / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome