Abstract
Ablative lasers are, without any doubt, the mainstay of laser technology in dermatologic surgery today. A relatively simple, touch-free, highly modulable tissue photothermal vaporization can be generated, either in full-beam or fractional mode with conventional surgical infrared lasers (CS-IRL). This effect is based on the well-known physical process where light energy is absorbed by tissue chromophores resulting in heat formation leading to local temperature increases. Intraoperative immediate results are clearly visible, and final clinical improvements—after wound healing—are quite predictable. Recently, another type of tissue ablation has been introduced focusing on nonthermal photomechanical effects produced by Q-switched infrared lasers (QS-IRL). Modern laser systems can consistently rely on effective and efficient technical solutions able to facilitate operators in the performance of otherwise complicated surgical procedures, thanks to a better spatial control on degree and extent of tissue injury. Today, ablative lasers can be effectively used to rejuvenate skin and mucous tissues through careful modulation of cellular destruction and tissue regeneration, improve scars through precise severing of thick collagen bundles leading to their subsequent qualitative and quantitative regenerative rearrangement, increase transcutaneous penetration of topical actives, precisely eliminate epithelial growth, and finely “sculpt” dermal irregularities. Ablative lasers can be effectively combined with other technologies like radio frequency and different non-ablative light sources besides being integrated with more complex combined treatments as advanced photo-dynamic treatment (PDT) and regenerative platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
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Abbreviations
- AFR:
-
Ablative fractional resurfacing
- CS-IRL:
-
Conventional surgical infrared lasers
- HSP:
-
Heat shock protein
- IR:
-
Infrared
- MMP:
-
Matrix metalloproteinase
- PIH:
-
Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation
- PRL:
-
Platelet-rich plasma
- QS-IRL:
-
Q-switched infrared lasers
- RTD:
-
Residual thermal damage
- TRT:
-
Thermal relaxation time
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Marini, L.G., Krunic, A.L. (2023). Lasers: Ablative. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D'Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15130-9_121
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