Scarring After Ablative Fractional CO₂ Laser Treatment

The ablative fractional CO₂ laser is a new treatment modality that involves less downtime and lower risk for side effects than traditional laser resurfacing in patients with photodamage, wrinkles, skin laxity, and acne scars. The authors of two case series now report scarring after this laser treatment in nine patients in the U.S.

At least seven patients were treated with the Fraxel ablative CO₂ laser; the laser used to treat the remaining two patients is not reported. All patients developed hypertrophic scarring on the neck, and one also developed lower lid scarring and ectropion. Laser settings ranged from 15 to 70 mJ/microthermal zone and densities of 20% to 45%. Two patients had histories of face-lift, one had a history of ablative resur…