Background. Lasers are finding increasing use in cosmetic and reconstructiv
e plastic surgery. We compared the erbium-YAG laser and the CO2 laser to co
nventional eyelid surgery with a scalpel.
Material and methods. We operated on 58 patients using the erbium-YAG laser
and on 32 using the CO2 laser. Surgeries were benign tumor excisions and r
emoval, xanthelasma removal,lower and upper eyelid blepharoplasties,and ski
n resurfacing in the area of the lower eyelid.
Results. Wound healing with the CO2 laser was significantly slower because
of its larger thermal necrosis zone, but the hemostasis with the CO2 laser
makes removal of deeper lesions easier. Advantages are the wide application
spectrum for incisional and ablative surgery. The erbium-YAG laser is an e
xcellent for ablating superficial benign lesions, including that in the are
a of the lid margin and close to the lacrimal puncta without scars.
Summary. The application spectrums of the erbium-YAG and CO2 lasers complem
ent one another. The erbium-YAG laser is superior for esthetic skin resurfa
cing and ablation of superficial lesions, and the CO2 laser allows hemorrha
ge-free noncontact incisional surgery.