Treatment of Neck Lines and Forehead Rhytids with a Nonablative 1540-nm Er:Glass Laser: A Controlled Clinical Study Combined with the Measurement of the Thickness and the Mechanical Properties of the Skin

Authors:
  • JLJean Michel Lagarde
    Jean Michel Lagarde
  • VTVirginie Turlier
    Virginie Turlier
  • LCLaetitia Courrech
    Laetitia Courrech
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Nonablative remodeling has been recently proposed as a new, no-down-time, anti-aging treatment. Objective. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nonablative skin remodeling with a 1540-nm Er:Glass laser on neck lines and forehead rhytids. Twenty female patients (mean age 45 years) were enrolled. Skin thickness and mechanical properties were measured before the first treatment, 1 month after the third treatment, 1 month after the fifth treatment, and 3 months after the fifth treatment. All patients reported an improvement in both skin tone and texture. Using ultrasound imaging, dermal thickness of neck and forehead increased, respectively, by 70+/-13 microm (p<0.001) and 110+/-19 microm (p<0.003). A dramatic increase of initial stress of the forehead skin (firmness) was obtained, from 7.62+/-3.68 before treatment to 16.68+/-7.44 3 months after the fifth treatment (p<0.0002). No immediate or late adverse effects were noted throughout the treatment regimen. This study demonstrates that irradiation with a 1540-nm Er:Glass laser emitting in a pulsed mode and coupled with an efficient contact cooling system increases dermal thickness and firmness, leading to a clinical improvement of neck lines and forehead rhydits.

This publication has 37 references indexed in Scilit: