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Lasers Med SciDOI 10.1007/s10103-008-0545-3 Results of fractional ablative facial skin resurfacingwith the erbium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser 1 weekand 2 months after one single treatment in 30 patients Mario A. Trelles & Serge Mordon & Mariano Velez &Fernando Urdiales & Jean Luc Levy Received: 13 December 2007 / Accepted: 17 January 2008 # Springer-Verlag London Limited 2008 Abstract The erbium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) were no side effects except for in one phototype IV patient, laser has recently been used in the fractional resurfacing of who had hyperpigmentation. Histology 2 months after the photo-aged skin. Our study evaluated the results after one single treatment demonstrated younger morphology of both single session of fractional resurfacing with Er:YAG.
the epidermis and dermis, with improvement of the pre- Thirty women participated in the study, with an average age treatment typical elastotic appearance. At the parameters of 46 years, skin types from II to IV, and wrinkle grades I to used in our study, only one treatment session of Er:YAG III. The 2,940 nm Er:YAG system used (Pixel, Alma Laser, laser could achieve effective skin rejuvenation, with effects Israel) had variable pulse durations (1 ms to 2 ms) and recognized in both the dermis and, more importantly, the energy densities (800 mJ/cm2 to 1,400 mJ/cm2) which, epidermis. This regimen offers an interesting alternative together with the number of passes (four to eight), were to the conventional approach of multi-session fractional selected as a function of wrinkle severity. All patients received only one treatment. Postoperative side effects wereevaluated. The number of wrinkles was documented with Keywords Laser surgery . Fractional resurfacing .
clinical photography and was scored. Histological assess- Er:YAG laser . Skin . Histology ment was carried out on two patients before and 2 monthsafter treatment. All patients completed the study. Of thepatients, 93% reported good or very good improvement of the degree of their wrinkles, with a satisfaction index of83%. Pain was not a problem during treatment, and there Laser ablative resurfacing remains the "gold standard" forrejuvenating severely photo-damaged facial skin, but it isassociated with long-term sequelae-related patient down-time. Recently, fractional resurfacing has been introduced M. A. Trelles : M. VelezInstituto Medico Vilafortuny, Fundacion Antoni de Gimbernat, in the armamentarium of the dermatologist's equipment.
Fractional resurfacing employs a unique mechanism ofaction that repairs a fraction of skin at a time. The laser is S. Mordon (*) used to resurface the epidermis and, at the same time, to INSERM U703, IFR 114, Pavillon Vancostenobel,Lille University Hospital, CH&U, heat the dermis to promote safely the formation of new 59037 Lille, France collagen. The untreated healthy skin remains intact and actually aids the repair process, promoting rapid healingwith only a day or two of downtime. Various modalities of F. UrdialesInstituto Médico Miramar, "fractional" resurfacing have been offered as alternatives to laser ablative resurfacing, designed to decrease the photo-thermal side effects while still achieving good results, with faster healing of the skin and significant reductions in Centre Laser Dermatologique,Marseille, France Irrespective of the laser wavelength used in the fractional with moderate elastosis (visible translucent yellow papules system, the primary target is both the epidermis and the under direct lighting) and some dyschromia. Type III dermis, with the aim of creating small zones of "micro- wrinkles were defined as a large number of fine-to- damage" separated by zones of unirradiated tissue that moderately deep wrinkles at rest, and very deep wrinkles assist with the rapid healing process. The aim of the with motion in association with severe elastosis and fractional approach is to obtain the best possible results thickened yellow multipapular skin under direct lighting, with the least possible damage, and the degree of thermal coarse on palpation and with a significant number of damage delivered to the target skin depends on the dosage, dyschromic lesions.
the pulse width of the beam, and the number of passes over Exclusion criteria for treatment included pregnancy, the same target area. A fractional system based on the nursing, inflammatory skin diseases, open wounds, active erbium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) laser has recently herpes simplex, facial congenital/acquired naevi, and become commercially available. When the Er:YAG laser is refusal to give signed informed consent.
used for resurfacing in the fractional mode, recovery time is Treatment details were explained to each patient, and all considerably shortened and traditional post-resurfacing se- signed a form of informed consent for surgery and the use quelae are absent. Consequently, this allows patients a rapid of clinical photography. The study was approved by the return to their social or work environments. Debate continues Antoni de Gimbernat Foundation Ethics Committee.
on the use of multiple treatment sessions or one single The laser used was the Pixel Er:YAG system (Harmony treatment session. From our study we present the results platform, Alma Laser, Israel) equipped with a beam splitter obtained from 30 patients and the associated symptoms to divide the 2,940 nm beam into several sets of microbeams.
observed after a single session of fractional resurfacing by The window of the laser handpiece was 11 mm×11 mm, multi-pass Er:YAG laser.
supporting 49 microbeams. The system has three pro-grammes for treatment pulse width: short (1 ms pulse width),medium (1.5 ms) and long (2 ms).
Materials and methods The energy programme for fractional resurfacing with this fractional Er:YAG laser is based on a variable pulse Patients and treatment width at a fixed output power. Depending on selection ofthe short, medium or long pulse setting, the radiant Thirty women participated in the study, with ages ranging exposures over the entire 11 mm×11 mm treatment area from 25 years to 52 years (mean age 46 years). Three are 800 mJ/cm2, 1,000 mJ/cm2 and 1,400 mJ/cm2, patients underwent full face resurfacing, eight, periocular respectively. The manufacturer's recommendation is that and 19, upper lip. Four patients were skin phototype II; 18, treatment can be given without the use of anaesthesia for all type III and eight, type IV. Fifteen patients presented with programmes, but, in clinical practice, repeated passes with degree III wrinkles, 11 degree II, and four degree I the system with small inter-shot intervals over the same (Table Tables and show the wrinkle grade broken area inevitably leads to heat accumulation, especially when down by the area to be treated and the fractional ablative the long pulse option (1,400 mJ/cm2) is chosen, and, as a resurfacing pulse programme chosen.
consequence, some degree of pain will be experienced, For inclusion in the study, patients were limited to those directly correlated with the number of laser passes. In our with wrinkles between degrees I and III, based on the study, application of the long pulse setting for type III wrinkles Glogau scale. Type I wrinkles were defined as fine, seen was preceded by the administration of local anaesthesia (4% with motion in association with mild elastosis, fine textural lidocaine in suspension, Laboratorios Profarplan, Barcelona, changes and a subtle accent of skin lines. Type II wrinkles Spain) applied topically 2 h prior to surgery. The excess were defined as a moderate number of fine wrinkles at rest, anaesthetic was removed and the skin surface cleaned. The plus moderate-to-deep wrinkles with motion in association Table 2 Patients broken down by area treated and wrinkle grade. The Table 1 Patients (total = 30) broken down by age group, skin upper lip accounted for the largest number of patients with grade III phototype and wrinkle grade (Glogau scale). Grade III wrinkles were wrinkles in 50% of all patients treated with the long pulse programme and grade II and grade Iwrinkles were treated with the medium and short pulse programmes, 25-32 years 33-34 years 45-52 years II III IV I Table 3 Results correlated with wrinkle site and grade and pulse patients were advised to begin their normal regimen of skin programme as evaluated by patients at the 2-month assessment point care and creams following the spontaneous detachment of the scab. Advice was also given regarding the avoidance ofsolar exposure, and the use of a UVA/B sun block with a solar protection factor 60 (SPF 60) was recommended.
Two patients from each of the three pulse width groups, as a trial population cross-section, volunteered to have 0.5 mm punch biopsies taken from the treatment area before and 2 months after treatment. Clinical photography ensured that the same biopsy point was not used more than once.
Patients were asked to record information regarding procedure-related pain and other postoperative side effects such as erythema and hyperpigmentation. Patients were instructed on how to score procedure-related pain using an +++ Very much less, ++ much less, + somewhat less, ± little or no 11-point visual analogue scale (VAS), where 10 was unbear- improvement, − worse able pain and zero was no pain, and the results were graded asfollows: extremely painful (10–9 on the VAS, +++); very laser was fired eight times, maintaining the head over the same painful (7–8, ++); bearable pain (6–4, +); little pain (1–3, ±); area but turning it slightly around its perpendicular axis each and no pain (0, −) Answers were tabulated. At the 7-day and time. Consequently, this technique corresponded to eight 2-month points the patients subjectively assessed erythema passes. Once the laser had been fired eight times, the and hyperpigmentation (severe, +++; bad, ++; noticeable, +; handpiece was moved to another treatment area. In patients mild, ±; and none, −); changes in their lines and wrinkles (very with types I or II wrinkles, where lighter fractional resurfacing much less, +++; much less, ++; somewhat less, +; little or no was required, no anaesthesia was used and the programme change, ±; and worse, −); and the overall treatment efficacy was set to the short pulse mode (800 mJ/cm2) with four based on the result as a whole (excellent, +++; good, ++; passes, or medium pulse mode (1,000 mJ/cm2) with six fair, +; little or no change, ±; and worse, −). The patients' passes, respectively (Table ) depending on the severity satisfaction at the 2-month assessment, based on the improve- of the wrinkles. All patients, regardless of the degree of ment in lines, wrinkles and general skin condition, was graded wrinkles, received only one treatment.
as very satisfied (VS); satisfied (S); somewhat satisfied (FS); Standardized digital photographs (Sony MAVICA and not satisfied (NS). The values scored for VS and S were MVC-FD91) were taken of the patients' skin condition summed and expressed as a percentage to give the patient before the treatment (baseline assessment) and then 7 days satisfaction index (SI). The efficacy of Er:YAG fractional and 2 months after treatment (7-day and 2-month assess- resurfacing for skin rejuvenation was assessed objectively ments), maintaining uniformity in the patient's position, the from the clinical photography at baseline, 7 days, and lighting and the camera set-up. A separate floppy disk was 2 months after treatment, by two independent expert and kept for each patient to enable accurate repetition of the blinded aesthetic dermatologists. Where their assessment photography and follow-up. The clinical photography dramatically differed, consensus was reached after discussion.
allowed comparative assessment of the state of lines, Grading was as follows: excellent improvement, +++ (85– wrinkles and skin condition over the three assessment 100%); good improvement, ++ (60–84%); fair improve- points. Following the fractional resurfacing, flupametasone ment, + (30–59%); little or no improvement, ± (0–29%); and gentamicin ointment (Flutenal Gentamicina, Lab. Recordati España, S.L., Madrid, Spain) was gently applied to the The histological specimens taken at baseline and at the treated area. No occlusive dressing was used. Patients were 2-month assessment were stained with haematoxylin and recommended to use the ointment three times a day in small eosin (H&E), and an independent and blinded pathologist amounts (as a moisturizer), until spontaneous detachment was asked to comment on any changes seen in the of the scab that would form on the treated areas. No oral epidermal and dermal architecture.
medication was prescribed, but patients were advised totake paracetamol, 500 mg every 4 h, if pain occurred.
All patients completed the trial and participated in the two Patients were asked to return 24 h after treatment for control, assessments. During Er:YAG fractional resurfacing, all and 7 days and 2 months after treatment for evaluation. All patients treated with the long pulse programme reported increased discomfort with some pain with the eight laser 2-month assessments with the original wrinkle grade.
passes, despite the application of the topical local anaes- Increased improvement in all grades was seen at the final thetic. In particular, pain was experienced from the fifth assessment point.
pass onwards and when the treatment was for the full face.
Procedure-related pain is described in Table , and the However, no patient refused to finish the treatment. On the majority of patients found the procedure somewhat painful other hand, all patients treated with the short and medium (20/80), although no patient found the pain unbearable. On pulse programmes also experienced some discomfort with the other hand, no patient was totally pain free. Table also noticeable pain, but again no patient refused to continue shows the degrees of erythema and hyperpigmentation at with the treatment.
the 7-day assessment point, which are perhaps difficult for One day after surgery patients treated with the short and patients to assess because of inter-individual subjective medium pulse programmes presented with skin irritation.
variations. Although none found severe erythema,12 of the Some erythema was present, with slight scabbing that 30 patients felt their erythema was bad at post-treatment spontaneously detached after approximately 4 or 5 days, day 7, and the remaining graded it as noticeable to mild. No sooner than was the case following treatment with the long patient was erythema free. Some degree of hyperpigmen- pulse programme. Once the skin was free of the small fine tation was seen in three patients, with none seen in the scab in all treatment groups, erythema was more apparent, remaining 27. Table further shows the evolution of but the reaction was much less than when compared with erythema and hyperpigmentation between the two assess- standard ablative laser resurfacing, according to the opinion ment points and among skin types, from which it can be given by the clinical personnel involved in and familiar seen that erythema had completely evolved by the final with ablative resurfacing treatments. Patients treated with assessment in all skin types. In nearly all patients it had, in the long pulse programme presented with oedema and fact, evolved by 2 weeks after treatment: camouflage make- slight exudation the day after resurfacing but reported a up was recommended in the few cases in which it persisted mild ache with almost no discomfort. Seven days after Er: beyond the 2-week mark. Hyperpigmentation spontaneous- YAG fractional resurfacing, scabbing had almost totally ly resolved in all skin types by the 2-month assessment, disappeared in all 30 patients, with detachment of the crust except for one type IV patient treated with the long pulse occurring between days 3 and 4 for the short pulse programme. No other complication, such as scarring, programme, around day 5 for the medium pulse programme developed in any of the subjects, but one skin type II and between days 6 and 7 for the long pulse programme. The patient, treated on the upper lip, developed herpes simplex intensity of the erythema was directly correlated with the seen at the 7-day assessment, which was possibly related to length of the treatment pulse. The new skin was fine and fresh- the too-early application of camouflage makeup but which looking in all cases, and fine lines had disappeared.
had completely resolved by the 2-month assessment. It Table correlates the subjective assessment of the should be noted here that prophylactic anti-herpes agents results achieved at the 2-month assessment point, broken were not used at all in this study.
down by both treatment programme and treated area. The The comparison between the patients' and clinicians' majority of patients were treated on the upper lip (19/30), assessments of efficacy can be seen in Table , for the 7- followed by periocular (8/30) and full face resurfacing day and 2-month assessments. Both clinicians concurred in (3/30). Best results were for the full face and the upper lip all assessments. Although the clinicians' assessments compared with periocular resurfacing, although this might tended to be more favourable than the subjective patients' have been a function of patient numbers. Table correlates scores, they correlated very well. The one patient who rated the improvement in lines and wrinkles at the 7-day and herself worse at the 2-month assessment was the long Table 5 Degree of procedure-related pain, and erythema and Table 4 Patients' subjective changes in lines and wrinkles at the 7- pigmentation (7-day assessment) day and 2-month assessment points, by wrinkle grade Pain grade: +++, extremely painful (10–9 on the VAS); ++, verypainful (7–8); +, bearable (6–4); ±, little pain (1–3); –, no pain (0) +++ Very much less, ++ much less, + somewhat less, ± little or no Erythema and pigmentation: +++, severe; ++, bad: +, noticeable; ±, improvement, − worse Table 6 Erythema and hyperpigmentation at the 7-day and 2-month Table 8 Patient satisfaction grades and numbers at 7 days and 2 assessments, correlated with patients' skin types months after fractional Er:YAG resurfacing Assessment points Number of patients +++, Severe; ++, bad; +, noticeable; ±, mild; —, none VS very satisfied; S satisfied; SS fairly satisfied; NS not satisfiedSatisfaction indices for the 7-day and 2- month assessments (SI,calculated by adding the VS and S values expressed as a percentage of pulse-treated type IV patient in whom hyperpigmentation the patient population) were 63.3% and 83.3%, respectively.
had persisted. In both the patients' and clinicians' assess-ments, improved scores were apparent at the final assess- ment compared with the 7-day assessment, which is inagreement with all previous resurfacing and rejuvenation The aim of our carrying out only one treatment and not studies having a longer-term follow-up.
various sessions of treatment, as is usually recommended in Subjective patient satisfaction grades and numbers 7 fractional resurfacing, was to meet patient compliance to days and 2 months after fractional Er:YAG resurfacing are the maximum and to achieve the best possible skin seen in Table . The satisfaction indices (SI, calculated by improvement, while still respecting safety aspects and the addition of VS and S values and expressed as a obtaining rapid tissue recovery. Treatment was not only to percentage of the patient population) for the 7-day and 2- improve the appearance of wrinkles, but comprehensively month assessments were 63.3% and 83.3%, respectively, to remove other symptoms of photo-aging, meeting all the once again showing an improved SI for the longer follow-up.
criteria of "skin rejuvenation" as proposed by Bitter [].
Typical histological findings at baseline and at the 2- To achieve this, our goal was to gain as much of an month assessment are shown in Fig. , and typical effect as possible in one treatment but with controlled examples of clinical photographic evidence before treat- photothermal reactions, so that patients could rapidly re- ment and 7 days and 2 months after treatment are incorporate their daily activities. At the same time, in those illustrative of the results and progression in time of the patients presenting with degree III wrinkles, we sought to various degrees of wrinkles treated in Figs. and The leave enough thermal damage with one treatment to patient who contracted herpes simplex is seen in Fig. but subsequently stimulate the underlying dermis, thereby the improvement in her wrinkles should also be noted.
triggering collagen formation through the wound healingprocess. The thermal effects of Er:YAG laser can be substantially Table 7 Subjective (patient) and combined objective (clinician) enhanced when treatment is carried out with sub-ablative efficacy scored at the 7-day and 2-month assessments after single- energies []. As a result of eight passes, in the case of skin session fractional Er:YAG resurfacing (by numbers of patients) presenting with grade III wrinkles in the treatment with the long pulse programme, heat accumulated in the epidermiswith repeated passes having a small interpulse interval and reached the underlying dermis in the form of conducted heat. On the other hand, one or two laser passes withfractional Er:YAG laser resurfacing produced a very mild epidermal micro-peel, with minimal or no thermal propa- gation to the dermis. This was the aim in the treatment of grade I wrinkles with the short pulse programme. When patients presented with grade II wrinkles, the medium pulse programme was used. In principle, when fractional resur- Patient: +++, excellent; ++, good; +, fair; ±, little or no change; −, facing with Er:YAG laser is carried out with various worse. Doctors: +++, excellent improvement (85–100%) ; ++, good combinations of passes, the epidermis can be removed improvement (60–84%); +, fair improvement (30–59%); ±, little or noimprovement (0–29%); −, worse precisely and progressively and the skin takes only a few

Fig. 1 Skin before (a) and 2 months after (b) a single treatment skin, with a multicellular wavy epidermis. The dermo-epidermal (1,400 mJ, eight passes). A Dense keratin on a typical photo-aged junction is well defined, with fine collagen fibres, well organized epidermis and dermis. The basal epidermal layer is not well defined, linearly, in the superficial dermis running parallel and attached to the and, in the dermis, there is lack of fibre organization and noticeable basement membrane. In general, the collagen fibres are more compact interfibrillary spaces typical of the elastosis phenomenon. (b) Two and with fewer interfibrillary spaces. Both H&E, ×4 months after, the tissue aspect is more in accordance with a younger days to heal. With only a few laser passes, improvement wound healing process brought into play by the thermal occurs in the "dull" appearance of a photo-aged epidermis damage in the dermis [].
but with little repercussion in the dermis because of the low To achieve the maximum possible effect with only one level of conducted heat deposited there. As a result, this treatment, we chose the long pulse programme in eight will not have any real effect on wrinkles. On the other hand, passes to produce better skin results regarding wrinkles.
several Er:YAG passes during fractional resurfacing, with Multiple passes, with the long pulse programme, in only the higher energy of the long pulse programme, will peel one treatment could be thought of as "more aggressive" the skin more deeply, deposit much more heat into the than has been previously reported in studies ]. Howev- dermis to give the required residual thermal damage, and er, we believe that the treatment as described not only will thus bring about beneficial morphological changes to changes the aspect of the epidermis but increases the level both the epidermis and the superficial dermis due to the of photothermal dermal irritation via heat propagation to Fig. 2 Caucasian woman, 50years old, phototype III, (a)before and (b) after full-facefractional resurfacing with Er:YAG laser (1,400 mJ, eightpasses, only one treatment);details of the periocular area areemphasized in order to show theimprovement of wrinkles andskin texture, lightening and re-juvenation of the whole aspectof the skin. c The patient duringtreatment

Fig. 3 Caucasian woman, 52years old, skin phototype IV,(a) before and (b) after periocu-lar resurfacing (1,400 mJ, eightpasses, one treatment). Observethe better skin condition andfewer wrinkles at the 2-monthassessment point. c Duringtreatment affect the dermis. The primary action achieved by the Er: long pulse is required, with a larger number of passes, so YAG resurfacing treatment is epidermis renewal, but the that the resurfaced epidermis has the "younger" appearance stacking of passes deposits sufficient heat in the dermis to essential in skin rejuvenation, but it is accompanied by a stimulate neocollagenesis, which is essential to provide the significant improvement in the appearance of wrinkles due result both the clinician and patient require, because the to good reorganization and tightening of the extracellular architecture of both the epidermis and the dermis is matrix. Grade III patients must, therefore, be more prepared improved. In fact, the external aspect of the skin, namely to "suffer" a little longer from the more intense side effects the epidermis, is what patients first see when looking in the of the treatment rather than not resolve the problem of the mirror, and beneficial changes in the epidermis can be wrinkles. Patient education is, therefore, extremely impor- achieved in grade I wrinkles with one or two passes with tant to manage realistic patient expectations.
the fractional Er:YAG laser and the short pulse programme, Fractional resurfacing with Er:YAG laser with low with little thermal damage in the dermis accelerating the incident doses and few passes for wrinkle treatment will repair process. The medium pulse programme with more obviously require more than one treatment session to passes is required for more noticeable grade II wrinkles, to enhance the condition of moderate to severely photo-aged deposit more heat into the dermis and start neocollagenesis.
skin. However, each subsequent treatment session at the For much more established grade III wrinkles, however, the same parameters will not go any further than the previous Fig. 4 Caucasian woman, 48years old, skin phototype II, (a)before and (b) 1 week afterfractional resurfacing of theupper lip. Tissue has healed afterskin ablation, with clear im-provement of the wrinkles;however, clear signs of herpessimplex infection are observed.
c Aspect at 2 months aftertreatment. Herpetic lesion hashealed without any scarring, butsome lesion-related residual er-ythema is still present. Wrinklesare significantly better session and will fail to trigger the essential dermal wound such as frowning, looking surprised, laughing, looking healing processes, which are absolutely essential to achieve angry, and so on. In this way, wrinkles and lines not a better in-depth skin condition and for the elimination of obviously apparent can be seen, thus helping the clinician lines and wrinkles. In contrast, as seen in this study, with to determine the true aspect of the wrinkles on a patient-by- only one treatment at high energies and multiple passes, the patient basis.
results were evident even in grade III wrinkles. One Our study showed that pain was not a major problem particularly interesting advantage is that, although the during treatment, and there were no side effects. The dermis is affected and the epidermis eliminated, tissue absence of complications, except in the one patient who healing is achieved quite quickly. From 5 to 7 days after presented with hyperpigmentation, can be used as an one single treatment, the skin was free of fine scabs and had argument to recommend a second session of treatment for a rejuvenated aspect with minimized erythema. This is easy those patients whose expectations have not been met. Once to mask with cosmetics, and patients are ready to return to again, the importance of managing realistic patient expect- their business or social life in a very short time.
ations is clear. "Top-up" sessions at subsequent intervals Interviews with patients have shown that compliance will also thus be well-accepted.
with a laser resurfacing protocol is better when only a The fractional ablative Er:YAG laser device used in this single treatment is carried out. Moreover, the increased SI study has other possible applications in various skin 2 months after treatment in patients treated with the higher disorders and aesthetic conditions, in relation to ageing energy density of the long pulse programme and eight and cicatricial pathologies. The combination of fractional passes matched the expected results better.
resurfacing with, for example, an IR wavelength hand- Previous observations extracted from patients treated by piece, used before ablative fractional resurfacing with the us with the same device (data not published) and a number Er:YAG hand-piece, can heat the dermis, possibly adding of treatment sessions with a more conservative pulse extra value to improve the final results. The instigation of programme and fewer laser passes did not show better an appropriate adjunctive regimen of epidermal care might results than those achieved with only one treatment with the also help improve results even more, as might technique described above. In our experience, often when adjunctive phototherapy with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) patients are interviewed before treatment, they do not wish of appropriate wavelengths.
to undergo various sessions of treatment, and, even when The histological findings 2 months after treatment they agree to a multiple treatment regimen, compliance showed a better collagen appearance, more evident in those with the protocol can be less than perfect. The feasibility patients treated with high energy levels and multiple passes.
and efficacy of our treatment protocol are justified by the Improvement in the dermal architecture and organization fact that no patient reported any complications and that all seen in the histology 2 months after treatment were very completed both the assessment points.
well correlated with the better external gross aspect of the Clinical improvements obtained with non-ablative area treated, which was clearly the reason behind the high lasers are, in general, modest at best [So far, devices SI of 83% as reported by patients at the 2-month for skin rejuvenation associated with the use of all types of assessment point.
non-ablative rejuvenation treatments provide excellentdermal histology and good collagen remodelling. Howev-er, these achievements are not always echoed in enough epidermal rejuvenation and patient satisfaction –and, moreover, the long treatment regimens associated Fractional resurfacing with Er:YAG laser in only one with non-ablative methods also cause problems with treatment session can achieve effective skin rejuvenation, patient compliance.
with effects on both the epidermis and dermis. If the In this study, the results were satisfactory in all those treatment programme chosen is the long pulse mode, at patients presenting with grade I and grade II wrinkles, 1,400 mJ total energy per pulse, and eight passes are carried treated in one session with the short and long pulse out, the results obtained, as illustrated in our study, can be programme, respectively, but degree II wrinkles appeared highly efficacious and can be clinically and histologically to benefit less from the medium pulse programme. This demonstrated. The treatment programme can be accurately could be because degree II wrinkles correspond to an correlated, according to the degree of the signs of photo- intermediate phase of dermal tissue deterioration, and visual aged skin intended for rejuvenation. No complications were diagnosis fails to be totally accurate. Clinicians should be noted, except for one case of slight hyperpigmentation in a aware that, when examining patients for wrinkle diagnosis woman with phototype IV skin. Side effects, such as pain, and allocation of pulse programme treatment, patients discomfort, fine scabbing, oedema and erythema, are well should be asked to accentuate a range of facial expressions, tolerated and accepted by patients. The side effects can be very well controlled, so, if necessary, extra treatment European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress, sessions can be carried out.
16–20 May 2007, Vienna, Austria 6. Lee MW (2002) Combination visible and infrared lasers for skin The authors declare no financial or other rejuvenation. Semin Cutan Med Surg 21:288–300 interest in the companies and/or equipment mentioned in this study.
7. Lee MW (2003) Combination 532-nm and 1064-nm lasers for The report given in this study is registered in the academic activities of noninvasive rejuvenation and toning. Arch Dermatol 139:1265– the Fundacion Antoni de Gimbernat, 2006–2007.
8. Tanzi EL, Williams CM, Alster TS (2003) Treatment of facial rhytides with a nonablative 1,450-nm diode laser: a controlled andhistologic study. Dermatol Surg 29:124–128 9. Menaker GM, Wrone DA, Williams RM, Moy RL (1999) Treatment of facial rhytides with a nonablative laser: a clinical 1. Gold MH (2007) Fractional technology: a review and clinical and histological study. Dermatol Surg 25:440–444 approaches. J Drugs Dermatol 6:849–852 10. Goldberg DJ (1999) Non-ablative subsurface remodeling: clinical 2. Bitter PH (2000) Noninvasive rejuvenation of photoaged skin and histological evaluation of a 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser. J Cutan using serial full-face intense pulsed light treatments. Dermatol Laser Ther 1:153–157 Surg 26:835–843 11. Goldberg DJ (2000) Full-face nonablative dermal remodeling with 3. Trelles MA, Mordon S, Benítez V, Levy JL (2001) Er:YAG laser a 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser. Dermatol Surg 26:915–918 resurfacing using combined ablation and coagulation modes.
12. Trelles MA, Allones I, Luna R (2001) Facial rejuvenation with a Dermatol Surg 27:727–734 nonablative 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser: a preliminary clinical and 4. Miller LD (1997) The erbium laser gains a role in cosmetic histological evaluation. Dermatol Surg 27:111–116 surgery. Biophoton Int May/June 38–42 13. Trelles MA, Allones I, Velez M (2003) Nonablative facial skin 5. Trelles MA (2007) Red light-emitting diode (LED) therapy assisted photorejuvenation with an intense pulsed light system and healing improves results of facial skin fractional resurfacing. 16th adjunctive epidermal care. Lasers Med Sci 18:104–111

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