Aesthetic earlobe remodeling: my personal experience with an LBO laser at 532 nm.

Since 1960, when Maiman built the first laser equipment, this technology has gone through a continuous development and an increasing utilization in several fields. Nowadays many pathologies find a less traumatic solution in laser technology. Laser can be either used to treat lesions with a high bleeding risk such as hemangioma and lymphangioma or in patients with coagulation diseases or hypertension, taking advantage of its capability to coagulate. Moreover healing and scarring are improved by the laser's effect of biostimulation and inhibition of bacterial growth, this leading to a greater comfort for the patient. The tissue vaporization and the dimension of the damaged area depend on several factors, those related to the laser used, such as wavelength, power, emission mode (continued or pulsed mode) and the power density, and those concerning to the treated tissue, like color and consistency. In this Study, we used an Lithium Borate, (LBO), laser, instead of scalpel for earlobe reduction in a 35-year-old male patient with pending lobule. LBO laser works through a solid active medium emitting a visible green light. A diode laser, with a wavelength of 810 nm, stimulates a crystal of Nd:YAG, which has a wavelength of 1064 nm. Then a crystal of LBO doubles the vibration frequency of the photons, leading to a final wavelength of 532 nm.

Laser CO2 versus radiotherapy in treatment of keloid scars.

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are quite common diseases that can occur after any kind of wound and skin inflammation in predisposed individuals. Despite their benign nature, they can be aesthetically disabling and they are often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such pain, burning and itching. Several approaches have been tried but most of them with poor results. Ablative fractional CO(2) laser seems to be an encouraging approach in treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars, not only for its efficacy, but also for its low harmfulness. Radiotherapy following surgical excision is commonly used to treat these scars, but an increased incidence of different kinds of cancer from radiation has been demonstrated in several cases. Compared to radiotherapy, the use of CO(2) laser after surgical excision of keloids has shown great results with no recurrence and without the risk of carcinogenesis.

Treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids with a fractional CO2 laser: a personal experience.

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are both abnormal wound responses in predisposed individuals but they differ in that keloids extend beyond the original wound and almost never regress, while hypertrophic scars remain within the original wound and tend to regress. How keloids grow is not totally clear because there is no animal model; in fact, keloids affect only humans. Different injuries can result in keloids, including burns, surgery, ear piercing, lacerations, abrasions, tattooing, vaccinations, injections, insect bites and any process causing skin inflammation (chicken pox, acne, folliculitis, zoster). Skin or wound tension is considered a critical factor in the formation of keloids and hypertrophic scars. This study is based on eight consecutive patients (four females and four males, F:M = 1:1) with a total of 12 keloids. All of whom were treated monthly with a MiXto SX CO(2) laser, using 13 W of power, 8 SX of index and 40% coverage (density) in combination with Same Plast Gel(®) twice a day. Each scar required 12 treatments, and all the patients, followed up for 1 year after the last treatment, had optimum results and no recurrence.

Treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids with an LBO laser (532 nm) and silicone gel sheeting.

BACKGROUND: Keloid scars continue to be a complex and poorly understood subject. The main problem faced by researchers is the lack of an animal model because keloids affect only humans. Traditional techniques for keloids and hypertrophic scars are still available. More recently, lasers have gained an increasing role in the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids. METHODS: A total of 37 consecutive patients (31 females and six males; F:M=5:1 ratio) with 48 scars (34 hypertrophic and 14 keloids) were included in this study. Patients ranged in age from 8 to 67 years (mean age 34 years) with Fitzpatrick skin types II-IV. The age of scars ranged from 3 to 35 months (average 9 months). The scars were classified according to the Vancouver Scars Scale (VSS). Clinical digital photography was performed under standard and cross-polarized illumination. Laser treatment was performed in association with silicone gel sheeting. RESULTS: Overall, excellent resolution of the scars was achieved, with an initial average VSS score of 12.6 and a mean VSS final score of 3.3. CONCLUSION: The combined use of silicone gel sheeting and a 532-nm millisecond laser is an effective and safe treatment for hypertrophic scars and keloids.

Right-left comparison study of hydrogel pad versus transparent fluid gel in patients with dermo-cosmetic lesions undergoing non-ablative laser therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the cooling properties of a transparent hydrogel pad and a fluid gel in patients with dermo-cosmetic lesions undergoing non-ablative laser therapy. METHODS: Patients enrolled in this prospective, open, randomized study had vascular or pigmented lesions in the face, v-neck or hands. The assigned test product was applied to the skin on the left side of the lesion whereas the other product was applied to the opposite side. Primary endpoints were the maximal pain intensity during laser treatment and the number of blisters and crusts after laser treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were enrolled and underwent laser procedures using a hydrogel pad and fluid gel (16 patients with vascular and five with pigmented lesions). Maximal local pain severity was lower in all 21 patients on the side where the transparent hydrogel pad was applied (p<0.001); the transparent hydrogel pad was associated with a more cooling effect (p<0.001) and less erythema (p = 0.027). The number of crusts was similar for both test products. CONCLUSION: Overall, laser therapy was more convenient for the patients on the side where the transparent hydrogel pad was applied. The transparent hydrogel pad offers an alternative skin cooling method worth considering for non-ablative laser therapy.