Treatment of Post-Burn Scars of the Face by Er: YAG Laser

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Maadi Plastic Surgery Center, Cairo, Medical Applications of Lasers Department/ National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University

2 National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University

3 National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, Cairo University and Department of Plastic Surgery

4 Faculty of Medicine, Menofia University, Menofia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effects of Er:YAG laser in the
management of facial post-burn scars by ablative and fractional
lasers.
Background: Post burn scars of the face can be hypertrophic,
atrophic, keloid, hyper pigmented or hypo pigmented
scars, Erbium-Yag laser was documented to treat these scars
effectively.
Patients and Methods: 15 patients with facial post-burn
scars were treated by Er:YAG laser. The lower 3rd is affected
in 70% of the cases, middle 3rd is affected in 20% and upper
3rd is affected in 10% of the cases. Fractional mode was used
for 9 patients with pigmentation and vascularity, and 6 patients
was treated by ablative mode for height and pliability.
Results: The patients were assessed clinically by Vancouver
scar assessment scale (VSS) as regard pliability, height,
vascularity and hyperpigmentation and assessed histopathologically
by hematoxyline-eosin (H&E) and Masson’s Trichrome.
The 1st group shows improvement in pigmentation
by VSS assessment in 66.7% and hypevascularity in 60.0%
of the patients, while in the second group improvement
occurred in height in 86.7% and pliability in 80.0% of the
patients.
Conclusion: Ablative and fractional modes of laser Er:
YAG can be used for treatment of facial post-burn hypertrophic
scars with good results.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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The Egyptian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Volume 43, Issue 1
January 2019
Pages 85-92

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