CO2-LASER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS IN FACIAL SKIN RESURFACING

Carbon dioxide lasers have been used increasingly in the field of aest hetic plastic surgery, specifically for facial resurfacing procedures. As many plastic surgeons are now venturing into the arena of laser su rgery for the first time, it is paramount to understand basic laser sa fety principles to protect our patients, the operating room personnel, and the laser surgeon. This article reviews basic laser principles an d practices and delineates the safety requirements needed to perform l aser resurfacing using the CO, laser system. We subjected several comm on objects present in the operative field during resurfacing procedure s to multiple passes of both the Coherent 5000 C laser and the Laser I ndustries (Sharplan) model 150XJ laser Silktouch to assess flammabilit y and margins of safety. We tested endotracheal tubes, wet and dry tow els, wet and dry gauze sponges, cottonoids, eye protectors, and ophtha lmic ointments. Neither flame nor burn was incited in the moistened pr eparations. The dry objects tested produced flame. The plastic corneal protectors began to melt by the third pass and produced significant h eat. Lastly, both the Lacrilube and Bacitracin ophthalmic ointments be gan to vaporize after-three laser passes. On the basis of our findings in this study, we recommend guidelines for prudent and safe CO2 laste r usage in facial skin resurfacing.