Combined use of superpulsed carbon dioxide laser and cryotherapy for treatment of facial rhytids.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of superpulsed carbon dioxide (CO2) laser alone with that of cryotherapy in combination with CO2 laser in treatment of facial rhytids.

DESIGN

A randomized prospective study.

SETTING

Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic at Standford University Medical Center, Standford, Calif.

PATIENTS

Twenty patients with perioral rhytids were randomized in the study, 11 in the laser group and 9 in the cryotherapy and laser group.

INTERVENTION

Patients in the laser group were treated with superpulsed CO2 laser. Initially, the shoulders of rhytids were spot treated. The area was then wiped and rehydrated. The entire surface was then treated with a second pass. A third pass, if deemed necessary, was then used to treat the shoulders. Patients in the combined group underwent cryotherapy of the entire perioral region followed by CO2 laser treatment similar to that previously described.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Improvement in facial rhytids with laser treatment alone was compared with improvement using cryotherapy and laser. A skin wrinkle grading system was used and patients were graded by 3 independent observers. Close-up photographs were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. A questionnaire was filled out by each patient 1 month following treatment and was used to rate overall patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups regarding final outcome, amount of anesthetic agents required for each patient, or rate of complications.

CONCLUSION

Superpulsed CO2 skin resurfacing alone is as effective as combined cryotherapy and superpulsed CO2 laser for treatment of perioral rhytids.