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Laser Therapy for Scars

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Total Scar Management

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Abstract

Over the last 30 years, laser therapy has emerged as an effective primary and adjuvant treatment modality for scars. Laser therapy facilitates the selective destruction of discrete structures within the skin, as well as microscopic, spatially selective injuries to scars that result in both local and distant tissue remodeling. This remodeling process capitalizes on the patient’s native tissue reservoirs to facilitate a process of normalization leading to improved scar function, aesthetics, and a reduction in scar-associated symptoms. This chapter will review the basic principles of laser therapy for scars, as well as an evidence-based therapeutic approach for specific scar characteristics. It is critical that any physician managing scars be familiar with these invaluable tools for scar optimization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Surgery and Scar Center, San Antonio Military Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Timothy A. Durso, Nathanial R. Miletta & Bart O. Iddins

  2. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Timothy A. Durso, Nathanial R. Miletta & Bart O. Iddins

  3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

    Bart O. Iddins

  4. Shriners Hospital for Children—Boston, Boston, MA, USA

    Matthias B. Donelan

  5. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Matthias B. Donelan

  6. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Matthias B. Donelan

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  1. Timothy A. Durso
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  2. Nathanial R. Miletta
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  3. Bart O. Iddins
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  4. Matthias B. Donelan
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Correspondence to Matthias B. Donelan .

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  1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

    Rei Ogawa

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Durso, T.A., Miletta, N.R., Iddins, B.O., Donelan, M.B. (2020). Laser Therapy for Scars. In: Ogawa, R. (eds) Total Scar Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9791-3_14

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