ARTICLE | FACIAL REJUVENATION |
Laser technology as a coadjuvant of
liposuction proved safe and effective for skin retraction, although opinions are divided as to the ideal device.
Figure 6 59-year-old female patient before (A) and after (B) treatment
7.3 [maximum = 10]), some noticed no change, and a few thought their appearance had improved considerably (Figures 5 and 6).
Key points
■ The experience of the authors may show that the outcome of laser-assisted facial contouring is satisfactory for the rejuvenation of the lower third of the face
■ However, the need for rhytidectomy, fillers, or autologous fat grafting may remain
■ It is necessary to carry out further studies to ascertain the accuracy of the laser doses in each area and avoid technical side-effects
■ A longer follow-up to assess the improvement duration would be beneficial
■ In the future, the authors propose to carry out further studies combining laser-assisted facial contouring and autologous fat grafts. The authors will attempt fat grafting using stem cells
28 ❚ April/May 2012 |
prime-journal.com
Safety Oedema and induration were observed in 74% of patients: both conditions resolved in under 2 weeks, and only one patient had moderate induration at 3-month follow-up. Both oedema and induration were not very important in terms of interrupting the patientÕs normal daily activities. Both were invisible to the naked eye and only noticeable by touch. No marked haematoma was observed in any case. The dynamic asymmetry observed in two patients resolved before 3-month follow-up. The presence of burns at the entry point is a technical fault of the practitioner that can be avoided by being more careful when activating the laser. Burning in the treatment area resulted from applying the fibre tip too close to the dermis; this can be prevented by ensuring that the device is correctly positioned. Although of little relevance, the side-effects are
oedema, induration, ecchymosis, hypoaesthesia, sensitivity, and contracture. The complications include:
■ Transient facial dynamic asymmetry (2% of patients in this study)
■ Haematoma (0%) ■ Infection (0%) ■ Entry point burns (1%) ■ Treatment area burns (1%) ■ Hypercorrection (0%) ■ Hypocorrection (3%) ■ Induration after 3 months (1%). As few complications were observed, the safety
margin of the technique can be considered high. Nevertheless, complications should be monitored carefully. Asymmetry and correction defects may require a touch-up session. In this study, all such defects resolved satisfactorily in all cases at 6 months.
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