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Wrinkles and Acne Scars: Ablative and Nonablative Facial Resurfacing

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Laser and IPL Technology in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine

Abstract

Fully ablative carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing is the traditional gold standard for the treatment of moderate-to-severe rhytides and acne scars. It offers the most dramatic results but can have extensive downtime of 2 or more weeks. The Erbium:YAG laser, Erbium:YSGG laser, and plasma skin regeneration were developed to improve photoaging and textural abnormalities without the prolonged recovery time of traditional CO2 resurfacing. Clinical efficacy is generally not as impressive; however, there are less recovery time and an improved side-effect profile. The term “nonablative resurfacing” encompasses a wide range of treatments aimed at tissue remodeling and skin rejuvenation. The results vary depending on the laser or light source that is used. The goal of nonablative resurfacing is to induce selective injury of the dermis while keeping the overlying epidermis intact. Nonablative resurfacing devices include infrared lasers, visible light lasers, intense pulsed light, and light-emitting diode (LED) technology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Melissa A. Bogle

  2. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Melissa A. Bogle

  3. Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Greater Sudbury, ON, Canada

    Geeta Yadav

  4. SkinCare Physicians, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA

    Kenneth A. Arndt & Jeffrey S. Dover

  5. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Kenneth A. Arndt

  6. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Kenneth A. Arndt & Jeffrey S. Dover

  7. Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA

    Kenneth A. Arndt & Jeffrey S. Dover

Authors
  1. Melissa A. Bogle
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  2. Geeta Yadav
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  3. Kenneth A. Arndt
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  4. Jeffrey S. Dover
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laserklinik Karlsruhe, Kaiserstr. 104, Karlsruhe, 76133, Germany

    Christian Raulin

  2. Laserklinik Karlsruhe, Kaiserstr. 104, Karlsruhe, 76133, Germany

    Syrus Karsai

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bogle, M.A., Yadav, G., Arndt, K.A., Dover, J.S. (2011). Wrinkles and Acne Scars: Ablative and Nonablative Facial Resurfacing. In: Raulin, C., Karsai, S. (eds) Laser and IPL Technology in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03438-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03438-1_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03437-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03438-1

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