Scar Revision with Frostbite Using Dry Ice

ABSTRACT

Facial scar is one of the most common problems in plastic surgery department. Many various methods are attempted to improve facial scars, but there is no definite satisfactory method on scar revision. Authors have been interested in a tendency to show good results when traumatic lacerations were accompanied by abrasions. The improved appearance of the scars with this situation is the result that there were fewer elevations and depressions, and no break in continuity of the epidermal covering on both sides of the scar. But mechanical or other dermabrasive methods have a risk of hyperpigmentation. Authors suggest the scar revision with frostbite using dry ice. This method has little hyperpigmentation due to the sensitivity of melanocytes to cold injury. And the tissue destruction is progressed selectively because of the resistance of collagen against the cold injury and the preserved dermal fibrous network as the structural framework. These characteristics of cryotherapy improve the result of scar revision with fewer side effects rather than other dermabrasive methods. We performed this method to 349 patients from 1993 to 2003 and obtained high patients' satisfaction (85.9% more than fair). Moreover, this method is simple, cheap and handy. In conclusion, the scar revision with frostbite using dry ice is very useful method to improve facial scars.