Pulsed carbon dioxide and long pulse 10-ms erbium-YAG laser resurfacing: a comparative clinical and histologic study.

BACKGROUND: The recent introduction of pulsed erbium-YAG laser technology has been accompanied by relatively few clinical studies with widely varying claims regarding postoperative healing, clinical side-effects and efficacy. We evaluated a new long (10 ms) pulsed pulsed erbium-YAG laser in order to determine safety and clinical efficacy in comparison with a pulsed carbon dioxide laser. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to comparatively evaluate a pulsed CO 2 and long-pulsed erbium-YAG laser with regard to clinical side-effects, postoperative healing and efficacy in the reduction of rhytids. METHODS: Bilateral periocular or perioral sites were treated using a pulsed CO 2 (UltraPulse ® ) laser on one side and long-pulsed erbium-YAG laser (CO 3 ® ) on the opposite side. Histologic specimens were also studied in order to compare tissue effects of both lasers. RESULTS: Results showed equivalent postoperative healing and lack of complications. In addition, the long-pulsed erbium-YAG laser showed significant efficac...