Surgical treatment of rhinophyma, conventional vs. diode laser technique

ABSTRACT

Rhinophyma has been observed from the ancient times in Greece; Rhino Greek for nose, Phyma Greek for growth]. This condition is part of a skin disease, rosacea, which develops on top of a normal nose skeleton of bone and cartilage, being the continuous proliferation of sebaceous glands. To evaluate and compare laser surgery with the conventional techniques including cold knives and dermobraders in the treatment of rhinophyma. The study included 7 patients who were treated surgically for rhinophyma in the Ear, Nose and Throat [ENT] Department of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in the period between 1997-2004. All the patients were suffering from moderate to major rhinophyma. Four patients were treated by sharp blade excision, while the other three by laser surgery. Follow up periods extended between 1-4 years post-operatively. The parameters employed for the evaluation were the length of the procedure, preservation of normal tissues, the need for skin grafting, intra-operative bleeding, post-operative pain and discomfort, post-operative bleeding, as well as the cosmetic end results. With regards to the parameters we followed; the laser surgery in rhinophyma consumed relatively longer time than the conventional excision, but laser was a far better preservative procedure, reduced intraoperative bleeding and with no need for skin grafting. Generally, this laser surgery proved to be an easier and smoother procedure, as well as the cosmetic results being excellent. Laser surgery in the treatment of rhinophyma holds a distinct advantage over the other surgical modalities