Er:YAG + SMA safe, effective for facial skin rejuvenation

(HealthDay)—Multifractional microablative laser combined with spatially modulated ablative (SMA) technology appears to be effective and safe for facial skin rejuvenation, according to a study published online July 18 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

Barbara Hersant, M.D., from Henri Mondor Hospital in Créteil France, and colleagues examined the clinical efficacy and safety of Erbium:YAG laser combined with SMA (Er:YAG + SMA) on facial skin rejuvenation. Thirty-four patients with Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV were included prospectively (50 percent had skin type III); patients had wrinkles and irregular skin texture. To stimulate tissue regeneration, all patients underwent two Er:YAG + SMA sessions one month apart.

The researchers observed a significant improvement in skin elasticity indices for R5 (net elasticity) (P = 0.05) from baseline to month six (M6). There was also a significant improvement in skin firmness, with an increase in biological elasticity (R7) and a decrease in viscoelastic ratio (R6) from baseline to M6. There was a correlation for a negative value for R6 with improvement in skin condition. From baseline there were significant increases in FACE-Q scores at M1 and M6, indicative of wrinkle reduction and enhanced rejuvenation. Results showed that patients felt younger at M1 and M6 according to the age appraisal visual analogue scale by −2.92 and −4.13 years, respectively (both P < 0.0001).

"The Er:YAG + SMA technology offers an effective and safe treatment alternative for facial skin rejuvenation," the authors write. "It reduces the recovery time compared to conventional lasers such as carbon dioxide laser."