Treatment of Atrophic Facial Scars with Combined Use of High-Energy Pulsed CO2 Laser and Er:YAG Laser: A Practical Guide of the Laser Techniques for the Er:YAG Laser

BACKGROUND: Although CO2 laser resurfacing provides substantial clinical improvement for atrophic facial scars, the CO2 laser often results in excessive thermal damage to the skin. It increases complications postoperatively. The Er:YAG laser ablates thinner layers of tissue than the CO2 laser with minimal thermal damage to the surrounding skin. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of combined treatment of atrophic facial scars with high-energy pulsed CO2 laser and Er:YAG laser. METHODS: One hundred fifty-eight patients were treated with a combination of high-energy pulsed CO2 laser and Er:YAG laser for atrophic facial scars. All patients were evaluated after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: The scars improved 80-89% in 65 patients, 70-79% in 56 patients, more than 90% in 32 patients, 60-69% in 2 patients, and less than 60% in 3 patients after laser treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment of atrophic facial scars with combined use of high-energy pulsed CO2 laser and Er:YAG laser is a very effective and useful method.