Local Flap Surgical Scar Management Caused by Skin Cancer Using Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite careful and atraumatic surgical techniques, surgical treatment and reconstruction can result in scarring. Scar from skin cancer on the face may continue for a long time. This current report demonstrates the utility of a fractional CO2 laser to treat facial scar resulting from local flap coverage to remove skin cancer. METHODS: Five patients underwent local flap coverage after removing facial skin cancer tumors. The resulting scars after reconstruction of these skin cancer defects are on face. Each received 6 treatments with a fractional CO2 laser device (LineXel(R); UTI Co. Ltd, Seoul, Korea). Treatments were spaced about 1 month apart. Results were evaluated before the initial treatment, and at 1 month after the last treatment session. RESULTS: The fractional CO2 laser device is effective for treating surgical scars especially on scar texture and thickness without significant adverse effects. Prior to the laser session, these scars concerned different pigmentation, pliability, height, vascularity compared to the surrounding skin. Patients also expressed a 4-point subjective scale of satisfaction. Patients were satisfied with the treated scars. CONCLUSIONS: The fractional CO2 laser device of the present report is an effective treatment modality for facial scars after reconstruction of skin cancer defects. Besides this laser also does not show any serious adverse effect.