The purpose of the study was to test a novel 30 Watt, 10.6 micrometer carbon dioxyde laser that uses ablative fractional resurfacing directly on a patient for the first time. A range of pulse energies between 5 and 40 mJ was tested and lesion dimensions were assessed. Wound healing of the microscopic treatment zones was assessed immediately-, 2-day, 7-day, 1-month, and 3-month post treatment.
The study confirmed previous ex vivo findings and shows for the first time invivo that a controlled array of microscopic treatment zones of ablation and coagulation could be deposited in human skin by varying treatment pulse energy. Studies of heat shock proteins revealed a persistent collagen remodeling response lasting at least 3 months. The study successfully demonstrated the first in-vivo use of ablative fractional resurfacing treatment on human skin.
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