Fractional CO2 laser for surgical scar treatment

Treatment of surgical scars with CO2 fractional laser

Post-surgical scarring is a disfiguring manifestation left behind during the wound healing process. For example, the painful psychological shadow caused by trauma, thyroidectomy, giant pigmented nevus, etc. on exposed areas such as face and neck, especially for female patients. Then, for post-surgical scarring, topical medications to prevent scar growth, photoelectric treatment (such as CO2 fractional laser, 585/595nm dye laser, plasma laser, etc.), and modified surgical suturing can be used clinically. The literature shows that early interventions for post-surgical scarring, especially early laser intervention, can effectively improve the appearance of scarring, and a general consensus is gradually emerging on numerous literature reports and can effectively improve patient satisfaction.

-The principle of CO2 fractional laser for scar treatment-

In clinical applications, the CO2 fractional laser produces an array of tiny beams that are completely absorbed by the water in the skin tissue of the treated area and vaporized to form multiple columnar structured micro-damage areas, which in turn promotes the initiation of a uniform skin repair process in the form of thermal stimulation for the matrix arrangement of micro-thermal damage in the scar area and promotes the reconstruction of the skin tissue in all layers. In addition, the tissue around the micro-hole can be well maintained during laser treatment, which can effectively avoid laser damage and enhance the treatment effect and safety.

-Advantages of the CO2 fractional laser -

1. For small surgical scars:

Carbon dioxide fractional laser treatment for scar is an outpatient treatment with shorter treatment operation time; short recovery period, most of the wounds can recover within a few days and will not affect normal work and life; less damage to the treated wounds, no obvious bleeding or only a small amount of bleeding.

2. For large scars:

Carbon dioxide fractional laser treatment for large scars does not require skin removal, reduces much surgical pain, significantly shortens surgery and hospitalization time, and provides rapid relief of pain and itching symptoms; following a course of treatment often results in significant improvement in appearance.