• Medical Lasers
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.90-93
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• 2019

The treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars (HTSs) remains one of the most difficult challenges, with a high recurrence rate regardless of the method of treatment. The latest trend in scar management is a combined approach using multiple modalities that are individualized to the patient and that would provide successful results for keloid and HTSs. There are previous reports that stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is effective for scar remodeling. Based on these reports, we introduced the concept of a combination treatment using SVF injection and fractional ablative CO₂ laser. In this report, we present a 21-year-old woman who was involved in a car accident. A defect on her foot was covered with a skin graft, but the scars became elevated, which turned out to be HTSs. She was treated with a fractional ablative CO₂ laser for five sessions. A month later, SVF injection and fractional ablative CO₂ laser were conducted simultaneously. The result of a year's follow-up showed a flattened scar with resolution of pigment deposition. In conclusion, the combination treatment for HTSs with SVF injection and ablative fractional CO₂ laser is one of the modalities to achieve an excellent outcome for treating HTS.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Background : Skin injuries, such as lacerations due to trauma, are relatively common, and patients are very concerned about the resulting scars. Recently, the use of ablative and non-ablative lasers based on the fractional approach has been used to treat scars. In this study, the authors demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ablative fractional resurfacing (AFR) for traumatic scars using a 2,940-nm erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser for traumatic scars after primary repair during the early posttraumatic period. Methods : Twelve patients with fifteen scars were enrolled. All had a history of facial laceration and primary repair by suturing on the day of trauma. Laser therapy was initiated at least 4 weeks after the primary repair. Each patient was treated four times at 1-month intervals with a fractional ablative 2,940-nm Er:YAG laser using the same parameters. Posttreatment evaluations were performed 1 month after the fourth treatment session. Results : All 12 patients completed the study. After ablative fractional laser treatment, all treated portions of the scars showed improvements, as demonstrated by the Vancouver Scar Scale and the overall cosmetic scale as evaluated by 10 independent physicians, 10 independent non-physicians, and the patients themselves. Conclusions : This study shows that ablative fractional Er:YAG laser treatment of scars reduces scars fairly according to both objective results and patient satisfaction rates. The authors suggest that early scar treatment using AFR can be one adjuvant scar management method for improving the quality of life of patients with traumatic scars.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.575-581
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• 2016

Background Open thyroidectomy is conventionally performed at the anterior side of neck, which is a body part with a comparatively great degree of open exposure; due to this, postoperative scarring may cause distress in patients. We aimed to compare the effects of ablative and nonablative fractional laser treatments on thyroidectomy scars. We examined medical records in a retrospective manner and analyzed scars based on their digital images by using the modified Manchester Scar Scale (mMSS). Methods Between February 2012 and May 2013, 55 patients with thyroidectomy scars were treated with ablative (34 patients) or nonablative (21 patients) fractional laser. Each patient underwent 4 laser treatment sessions in 3-4 week intervals, 1-2 months postoperatively. Scar improvement was assessed using patient images and the mMSS scale. Results The mean decrease in scar score was 3.91 and 3.47 in the ablative and nonablative groups, respectively; the reduction between 2 groups did not exhibit any significant difference (P=0.16). We used the scale once again to individually evaluate scar attributes. The nonablative group accounted for a considerably higher color score value (P=0.03); the ablative group accounted for a considerably higher contour score value (P<0.01). Patient satisfaction was high and no complications occurred. Conclusions Both types of fractional laser treatments can be used successfully for thyroidectomy scar treatment with minimal complications; however, results indicate that higher effectiveness may be obtained from the use of ablative and nonablative lasers for hypertrophic scars and early erythematous scars, respectively. Therefore, the appropriate laser for scar treatment should be selected according to its specific characteristics.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2020

The non-ablative fractional dual laser is equipped with two types of lasers, 1550 nm and 1927 nm in one device, and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2013. The advantages of the non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) include fewer side effects such as erythema, edema, post-laser pigmentation, and scab formation. Thus, the NAFL is preferred by both practitioners and consumers because it is convenient and safe for use. The 1550 nm erbium glass and 1927 nm thulium lasers are representative NAFLs that have been developed separately and are often used as a single-wavelength laser with proven clinical efficacy in various indications. The 1550 nm wavelength laser penetrates the dermis layer and the 1927 nm wavelength laser is effective for epidermal lesions. Therefore, targeting the skin layer can be easily achieved with both the 1550 and 1927 nm lasers, respectively, or in combination. Clinically, the 1550 nm laser is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate sagging and wrinkles, scars, and resurfacing. The 1927 nm laser improves skin texture and treats skin pigmentation and wounds. It can also be used for drug delivery. The selection and utilization rate of NAFL has been increasing in recent times, due to changes in lifestyle patterns and the need for beauty treatments with fewer side effects and short downtime. In this study, we present a plan for safe and effective laser therapy through a review of literature. Clinical applications of the multifunctional NAFL are also described.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.58-61
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• 2020

Keloids are pathologic fibroproliferative conditions characterized by excessive collagen deposition during wound healing. The pathogenesis of keloids is not fully understood, and current treatment options show variable results. In this case report, the patient developed a keloid after bilateral total thyroidectomy, and was treated with a combination approach using fractional ablative laser systems along with cryotherapy and triamcinolone injection. After seven monthly sessions of combination treatment, the patient presented marked improvement of the scar texture and symptoms. Furthermore, there was no recurrence for up to 2 years. We propose this combination as a safe and effective treatment option for keloid patients.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2017

In addition to its typical use for skin rejuvenation, fractional laser irradiation of early cancerous lesions may reduce the risk of tumor development as a byproduct of wound healing in the stroma after the controlled injury. While fractional ablative lasers are commonly used for cosmetic/aesthetic purposes (e.g., photorejuvenation, hair removal, and scar reduction), we propose a novel use of such laser treatments as a stromal treatment to delay tumorigenesis and suppress carcinogenesis. In this study, we found that non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) irradiation may have a possible suppressive effect on early tumor growth in syngeneic mouse tumor models. We included two syngeneic mouse tumor models in irradiation groups and control groups. In the irradiation group, a thulium fiber based NAFL at 1927 nm was used to irradiate the skin area including the tumor injection region with 70 mJ/spot, while no laser irradiation was applied to the control group. Numerical simulation with the same experimental condition showed that thermal damage was confined only to the irradiation spots, sparing the adjacent tissue area. The irradiation groups of both tumor models showed smaller tumor volumes than the control group at an early tumor growth stage. We also detected elevated inflammatory cytokine levels a day after the NAFL irradiation. NAFL treatment of the stromal tissue could potentially be an alternative anticancer therapeutic modality for early tumorigenesis in a minimally invasive manner.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2012

Recent studies have revealed that collagen peptide plays a protective role on skin by improving the activity of antioxidants and acts as an inducer of skin regeneration. To evaluate the efficacy of low molecular weight collagen peptide for skin recovery after non-ablative 1550 nm fractional photothermolysis laser. 10 volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. Both control and experimental groups received fractional photothermolysis treatment. In the experimental group, 5 subjects received oral collagen peptide 1,000 mg/day for 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment, we measured elastic recovery of skin, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema index (EI) for each patients. The evaluation of clinical results showed that elastic recovery of skin is higher in the experimental group than the control group (p < 0.05). TEWL have no significancy between two groups and erythema rapidly disappeared in the experimental group. On the quartile grading scale, the mean patient satisfaction 4 weeks after the fractional photothermolysis treatment was 2.0 in experimental group and 1.2 in control group. The low molecular weight collagen peptide appears to be an effective conservative therapy for skin recovery after non-ablative 1550 nm fractional photothermolysis treatment.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2020

Human fibroblast-derived multi-peptide factors (MPFs) have been used during treatments with energy-delivering modalities to enhance energy-induced tissue reactions. Human fibroblast-derived MPFs, which include a range of growth factors and chemoattractive factors, activate and recruit fibroblasts and endothelial cells, as well as promote extracellular matrix deposition, all of which are crucial to wound repair. Interestingly, fibroblasts from different species or anatomical sites exhibit distinct transcriptional properties with high heterogeneity. In addition, the patterns of MPF secretion can differ under a range of experimental conditions. Therefore, the use of allogeneic fibroblasts and proper cultivation thereof are necessary to obtain MPFs that can enhance the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during wound repair. Moreover, energy-delivering devices should be selected according to evidence demonstrating their therapeutic efficacy and safety on a pathological skin condition and the major target skin layers. This paper reviewed the histologic patterns of post-treatment tissue reactions elicited by several energy sources, including non-ablative and ablative fractional lasers, intense focused ultrasound, non-invasive and invasive radiofrequency, picosecond-domain lasers, and argon and nitrogen plasma. The possible role of the immediate application of human fibroblast-derived MPFs during wound repair was proposed.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.52-54
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• 2021

There is growing interest in minimizing postoperative scarring after a thyroidectomy. Among the many treatment types, laser therapy, especially picosecond-domain laser therapy, is accepted as a standard method. In the present case, a patient with a pigmented, contracted scar was treated using the combination of a picosecond laser and ablative fractional (AF) CO₂ laser. After 15 sessions of 1,064-nm picosecond with micro lens array (MLA) and AF CO₂ laser application, the patient showed significant improvement in their pigmented lesions and scar contracture with no noticeable side effects for 16 months. These results suggest that a combination of picosecond laser with MLA and AF CO₂ laser can treat pigmented, contracted scars safely and effectively.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2019

Background: Lidocaine spray is a local anesthetic that improves random-pattern skin flap survival. The fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser (FxCL) produces vertical microchannels that delivers topically applied drugs to the skin. In this study, we hypothesized that FxCL therapy would enhance the lidocaine effect to improve random-pattern skin flap survival in rats. Methods: McFarlane random-pattern skin flaps were elevated in 48 rats, which were divided into four groups according to treatment: FxCL+lidocaine, FxCL, lidocaine, and nontreatment (control). On postoperative day 7, necrotic flap areas, the number of capillary vessels, and neutrophil count were evaluated. Anti-rat vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD31 antibody activity were also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Results: Flap survival rate was $53.41%{\pm}5.43%$, $58.16%{\pm}4.80%$, $57.08%{\pm}5.91%$, and $69.08%{\pm}3.20%$ in the control, lidocaine, FxCL, and FxCL+lidocaine groups, respectively. Mean neutrophil count in the intermediate zone excluding the necrotic tissue was $41.70{\pm}8.40$, $35.43{\pm}6.41$, $37.23{\pm}7.15$, and $27.20{\pm}4.24cells/field$ in the control, lidocaine, FxCL, and FxCL+lidocaine groups, respectively. Anti-rat VEGF and CD31 antibody activity were the highest in the FxCL+lidocaine group. Conclusion: FxCL with lidocaine had a positive effect on random-pattern skin flap survival in rats. Thus, FxCL with lidocaine spray should be considered as a new treatment option to improve flap viability.