title: Early use of CO2lasers and silicone gel on surgical scars: Prospective study.
abstract: Some publications have shown good aesthetic results for scars through the early application of fractional CO2lasers on elective surgery scars. The aim of this randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was to compare the aesthetic quality of the scar from a group of patients submitted to super-pulsed fractional CO2laser applications (10,600 nm fractional CO2, set at a density of 20% and an energy of 10 mJ, a scanner of 03 × 03 mm, and a pulse repetition time of 0.3 seconds) in contrast with the other group that used only the silicone gel on the scar after plastic surgery.
  
  
  
  A prospective study was conducted by analyzing 42 patients with recent scars of up to three weeks in patients with a I-IV Fitz-Patrick skin phototype. The scars were evaluated aesthetically in the second and sixth months by applying the Vancouver scale.
  
  
  
  At 2 months of treatment, the statistical data showed a discrete superiority in the LASER group's treatment, as compared to that of the SILICONE group, in both percentage and significance concerning flexibility (P = 0.05) and pigmentation (P = 0.01). Laser group presented better results in the sixth month (P = 0,03).
  
  
  
  The early use of the fractional CO2laser contributed to improving the aesthetic quality of scars from elective surgeries in the second and in the 6th months. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:570-576, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Núcleo de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Ronaldo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Núcleo de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Faria
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Núcleo de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roselaine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Souza Jardim Vicari
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Núcleo de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petroianu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054020:Lasers, Gas / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D020034:Silicone Gels
keywords: fractional CO2 laser; scar; silicone Gel