Patients happy with laser skin treatments - study
November 10th, 2007 | by admin |Apr 17 - Most patients undergoing non-ablative laser skin surgery appear to be satisfied with the results of the treatment, according to a new study.
Laser surgery is used to treat a variety of cosmetic and non cosmetic skin conditions. It involves the use of lasers that cut, seal or vaporize skin tissue and blood vessels in the affected area. There are a number of lasers used to treat skin conditions, some of which are considered less invasive than others.
Laser skin treatments are becoming increasingly popular, especially for the treatment of acne scarring and photoaging . In a recent study, researchers measured patient satisfaction following laser treatments for these conditions with a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. The Nd:YAG is considered a non-ablative rejuvenation system. It treats scarred and damaged skin by stimulating collagen production. It also produces a cooling spray which helps prevent damage to the skin.
In comparison, invasive lasers treat skin conditions by removing the outer layers of skin to promote the growth of new skin. Non-ablative laser treatments are gaining interest because they are associated with less risk for adverse effects such as infection, scarring and pigmentary changes, when compared to invasive lasers. They also produce gradual improvement instead of sudden effects.
The researchers conducted interviews with 34 patients from the same practice. Each patient had previously received a series of six monthly treatments with a 1,320 nanometer Nd:YAG laser for treatment of acne scarring or photoaging. The interviews were conducted at least three months after treatment had ended.
After reviewing their data, the researchers found that 62 percent of the patients reported being satisfied with treatment. In addition, 31 percent reported improvement in the texture of the skin at the end of the six treatments. When the results were re-evaluated based on the specific condition being treated, the researchers found a slightly higher satisfaction rate among those with acne scarring. When asked to rate their overall degree of improvement on a 1 to 10 scale, the average rate for acne scarring was 5.4, while 3.8 was reported for wrinkling. The researchers believe this discrepancy could be due to higher expectations among photoaging patients.
These findings are significant because they suggest that the majority of patients undergoing non-ablative laser treatment for acne scarring and photoaging are satisfied with the improvement seen in their skin. The data also suggests that physicians can improve satisfaction rates by ensuring that their patients have realistic expectations for the outcomes of their laser skin treatment.
Details of the study were released by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery in a Mar. 31, 2007 press release. The study appears in the March 2007 issue of Dermatologic Surgery.
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