Hands On

As a modality, fractional laser is still new to many, and surgeons often have questions about procedures and techniques. Often, they must be modified to match the patient and the condition. Julius W. Few, M.D., director of The Few Institute for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Chicago, Ill, and a clinical associate at the University of Chicago, shared two treatment protocols with CST to illustrate possible methods:

For the treatment of acne, Dr. Few recommends:

• Sunscreen;

• Three sessions of dermabrasion (to control the acne);

• Two to four treatments with 1540 nm fractional nonablative erbium laser (to refine scars); and

• Two to four passes delivered fluence/pulse duration: 35-40 mj/15 ms

For the treatment of surgical and/or trauma scars:

• Sunscreen;

• Hydroquinone 4%/RA 0.5% (four week pre-treatment and between laser treatments);

• Two treatments with 1540 nm fractional nonablative laser; two passes delivered fluence/pulse duration: 30mj/30ms; and

• Slow delivery of fluence/delivery.