A flexible sealed tube transverse radio frequency excited carbon dioxide laser for dermatologic surgery

Abstract

A new CO2 laser system, of special characteristics, has been found to be effective for CO2 laser dermatological surgery. The unit is compact, freely movable, and suitable for office practice. A highly flexible operating probe makes for precision surgery. The initial investigative clinical series included resistant warts in many areas including extensive plantar warts, oral lesions, and condylomata. There were also excisions of broad base granuloma pyogenicum, large seborrheic warty lesions, thermal photocoagulation of rhinophyma, and laser dermabrasion of tattoos. Flaps were done in animals.

Combined Carbon Dioxide Laser Excision and Vaporization in the Treatment of Rhinophyma

“…Previous reports of the use of the carbon dioxide laser in the management of patients with rhinophyma 29–30 were either incomplete in their technical description or described use of a defo‐cused laser beam to create vaporization or ther‐mocoagulation of soft tissue. Both of these techniques differ substantially from the one we use routinely by combining both carbon dioxide laser excision with carbon dioxide laser vaporization.…”

Treatment of Massive Rhinophyma with the Carbon Dioxide Laser

“…This can result in severe disfigurement and functional impairment when massive enlargement causes obstruction of the nares. The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser has been reported to provide greater refinement over traditional procedures in the treatment of this disorder 2–10 . This report demonstrates the usefulness of this laser system in a patient with massive rhinophyma that was effectively treated by combining the excision and vaporization capabilities of the CO 2 laser.…”