Although the overall rate of complications associated with fractional laser skin resurfacing is much lower than with traditional ablative techniques, recent reports suggest that serious complications can develop.
Fractional laser skin treatment is associated with a relatively low complication rate and side effects observed in this study were temporary and did not result in long-term or significantly severe sequelae (e.g., scarring).
Cellulite can be significantly and safely reduced with the use of a noninvasive device that combines bipolar RF, infrared light, and mechanical massage.
The most common complication observed was postoperative erythema, which occurred in all patients, lasting an average of 4.5 months, and is a relatively safe procedure with a low complication profile.
Prevention of keloid and hypertrophic scars remains the best strategy; therefore, those patients with a predisposition to develop excessive scar formation should avoid nonessential surgery.
Treatment of hypertrophic inframammary scars with 585-nm PDL irradiation alone effected substantial clinical and histologic improvement, and the adjunctive use of intralesional corticosteroids did not significantly enhance clinical outcome except in those scars that were most symptomatic.
In this review, the currently available laser systems with cutaneous applications are outlined, with primary focus placed on recent advancements and modifications in laser technology that have greatly expanded the cutaneous laser surgeon's armamentarium and improved overall treatment efficacy and safety.
Atrophic scars can be effectively and safely reduced with 1,550-nm erbium-doped fiber laser treatment, and improvement scores increased proportionately with each successive laser session.