Long-term results of ultrapulsed carbon dioxide laser resurfacing of the Mediterranean face.

BACKGROUND

In Mediterranean countries, increased exposure to sunlight accelerates aging of the skin and the formation of wrinkles. The long-term follow-up results for the patients who underwent resurfacing with ultrapulsed carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser are presented.

METHODS

All 47 patients who underwent ultrapulsed CO(2) laser between 1994 and 1996 were included in the study. The patients were photographed with their permission before the laser treatment, at postoperative month 6, and at year 5, with comparison of the results.

RESULTS

In this study, with its 5-year follow-up period, it was found that the ultrapulsed CO(2) laser achieved long-lasting and acceptable facial resurfacing.

CONCLUSIONS

The ultrapulsed CO(2) laser enables damage to the abnormal dermal region with high-energy transfer in a very short period. The recent development of high-energy pulsed CO(2) laser has generated much renewed enthusiasm for cutaneous resurfacing, especially over the long term.