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

BACKGROUND The recent introduction of pulsed erbium-YAG (Er:YAG) laser technology has been accompanied by relatively few clinical studies with widely varying claims regarding post-operative healing, clinical side effects and efficacy. OBJECTIVE The aim was to evaluate comparatively pulsed CO2 and Er:YAG lasers with regard to clinical side effects, post-operative healing and efficacy when equivalent depths of histologic damage were produced. METHODS Bilateral periocular or perioral sites were treated using a pulsed CO2 laser on one side and a pulsed Er:YAG laser on the opposite side. Attempts were made to produce equivalent depths of coagulation (CO2) and ablation (erbium). RESULTS Results showed almost equivalent post-operative healing. However, the pulsed CO2 laser proved more effective in the treatment of moderate and deep rhytids. CONCLUSION When equivalent depths of coagulation and ablation are compared, the healing time is similar. CO2 proved to be more efficacious in the treatment of perioral and periocular rhytids.