LASER SKIN RESURFACING WITH THE SILKTOUCH FLASHSCANNER FOR FACIAL RHYTIDES

BACKGROUND. Effective treatment of facial rhytides has been reported u sing carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers with high peak power and short exposu re time which creates char-free ablation. Char-free ablation can also be created using a Silktouch Flashscanner attached to a conventional C O2 laser. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effe ctiveness of the SilkTouch flashscanner in skin resurfacing. METHODS. The SilkTouch Flashscanner attached to one of two continuous wave CO2 lasers was used to treat facial rhytides on 40 patients. Histopatholog y to evaluate the depth of penetration of the scanner on both CO2 lase rs was performed on preauricular skin prior to excision during facelif t surgery. Silicone surface replicas were obtained pre- and 2 months p ost-laser treatment on two patients and evaluated by optical micrometr y. Clinical evaluation of all patients pre- and post-laser treatment w as performed. RESULTS. Clinical evaluation showed significant improvem ent of facial rhytides. Optical micrometry revealed a decrease in rhyt ide volume, indicating rhytide improvement. CONCLUSION. The Silktouch flashscanner is effective for the treatment of facial rhytides.