CO2 Laser Is Safe, Effective for Neck Rejuvenation

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — Fractional CO2 laser treatment is highly effective for neck rejuvenation, offering substantial improvement in skin laxity, rhytids, texture, and pigmentation with a favorable adverse events profile, reported Dr. Lori Brightman.

In a study of 13 patients aged 30–75 years who underwent treatment of the neck using the Fraxel CO2 laser, improvement on these outcome measures was mostly in the 25%-75% range after two treatments, with some patients experiencing 75%-100% improvement, she said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

The mean improvement for each measure was well above 50%, she said, noting that "this is something we consistently reproduced." Some patients also experienced platysmal band improvement, added Dr. Brightman of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.

The patients were treated using a 15-mm spot size, an energy setting of 4–70 mJ, and 100–200 microthermal zones with a 30%-50% density for each pass. Between two and four passes were made, depending on the degree of skin laxity and rhytids. Each patient underwent two treatments at 1–3 months apart, with follow-up at 3 months following the second procedure.

Three blinded dermatologic physicians evaluated pre- and posttreatment photos to determine improvements in the degree of rhytids, crepe-like skin, skin tightening, and pigmentation.

All patients experienced posttreatment erythema and some slight edema with resolution in about 1 week. There were no cases of scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation in the short or long term.

"We feel that these results strongly support the use of the fractional CO2 laser off of the face, in particular to rejuvenate the neck with a very low risk of adverse events," Dr. Brightman concluded.

Dr. Brightman stated that she had no disclosures relevant to her presentation.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — Fractional CO2 laser treatment is highly effective for neck rejuvenation, offering substantial improvement in skin laxity, rhytids, texture, and pigmentation with a favorable adverse events profile, reported Dr. Lori Brightman.

In a study of 13 patients aged 30–75 years who underwent treatment of the neck using the Fraxel CO2 laser, improvement on these outcome measures was mostly in the 25%-75% range after two treatments, with some patients experiencing 75%-100% improvement, she said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

The mean improvement for each measure was well above 50%, she said, noting that "this is something we consistently reproduced." Some patients also experienced platysmal band improvement, added Dr. Brightman of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.

The patients were treated using a 15-mm spot size, an energy setting of 4–70 mJ, and 100–200 microthermal zones with a 30%-50% density for each pass. Between two and four passes were made, depending on the degree of skin laxity and rhytids. Each patient underwent two treatments at 1–3 months apart, with follow-up at 3 months following the second procedure.

Three blinded dermatologic physicians evaluated pre- and posttreatment photos to determine improvements in the degree of rhytids, crepe-like skin, skin tightening, and pigmentation.

All patients experienced posttreatment erythema and some slight edema with resolution in about 1 week. There were no cases of scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation in the short or long term.

"We feel that these results strongly support the use of the fractional CO2 laser off of the face, in particular to rejuvenate the neck with a very low risk of adverse events," Dr. Brightman concluded.

Dr. Brightman stated that she had no disclosures relevant to her presentation.

KISSIMMEE, FLA. — Fractional CO2 laser treatment is highly effective for neck rejuvenation, offering substantial improvement in skin laxity, rhytids, texture, and pigmentation with a favorable adverse events profile, reported Dr. Lori Brightman.

In a study of 13 patients aged 30–75 years who underwent treatment of the neck using the Fraxel CO2 laser, improvement on these outcome measures was mostly in the 25%-75% range after two treatments, with some patients experiencing 75%-100% improvement, she said at the annual meeting of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

The mean improvement for each measure was well above 50%, she said, noting that "this is something we consistently reproduced." Some patients also experienced platysmal band improvement, added Dr. Brightman of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York.

The patients were treated using a 15-mm spot size, an energy setting of 4–70 mJ, and 100–200 microthermal zones with a 30%-50% density for each pass. Between two and four passes were made, depending on the degree of skin laxity and rhytids. Each patient underwent two treatments at 1–3 months apart, with follow-up at 3 months following the second procedure.

Three blinded dermatologic physicians evaluated pre- and posttreatment photos to determine improvements in the degree of rhytids, crepe-like skin, skin tightening, and pigmentation.

All patients experienced posttreatment erythema and some slight edema with resolution in about 1 week. There were no cases of scarring, hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation in the short or long term.

"We feel that these results strongly support the use of the fractional CO2 laser off of the face, in particular to rejuvenate the neck with a very low risk of adverse events," Dr. Brightman concluded.

Dr. Brightman stated that she had no disclosures relevant to her presentation.