The gold standard for decortication of rhinophyma: combined erbium-YAG/CO2 laser.

Author: Goon PK, Dalal M, Peart FC

Author affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham, Selly Oak, West Midlands, Birmingham, United Kingdom. pat28g@yahoo.co.uk

Publication date & source: 2004.11, Aesthetic Plast Surg., 28(6):456-60. Epub 2004 Dec 23.

Rhinophyma is a benign condition of the nose that often is severely disfiguring and occasionally causes functional problems. A considerable proportion of the patients, with rhinophyma are elderly with chronic medical problems. Electrocautery, heated scalpel, carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser, argon laser, Weck blade, dermabrasion, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, full-thickness excision, skin graft, flap reconstruction, and cold scalpel have been used either alone or in combination. All these techniques have disadvantages that are resolved by using the combined erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG)/CO(2) laser. The authors present their technique and the results from decortication of rhinophyma using a combined erbium:YAG/CO(2) laser. The technique requires only local anesthesia with a vasoconstrictor. The combination of an efficient vaporization tool consisting of the erbium:YAG laser and the CO(2) coagulation laser provides a nearly bloodless field for accurate sculpting of the nose and produces cosmetically pleasing results.

Indexes of Skin Care Research Abstracts by Subject Category Most Recent

Web SmartSkinCare.com

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Ask a Question | Resources

Copyright © 1999-2008 by Dr. G. Todorov / SmartSkinCare.com
Site Disclaimer | Copyright Certification