Efficacy of minimally invasive nonthermal laser-induced optical breakdown technology for skin rejuvenation

Abstract

We demonstrate the efficacy of a novel minimally invasive nonthermal skin rejuvenation technique for wrinkle and fine-line reduction based on laser-induced optical breakdown. The optical breakdown caused by tightly focused near-infrared laser pulses creates a grid of intradermal lesions without affecting the epidermis, leading to skin rejuvenation. The pilot in vivo efficacy test performed on five subjects successfully demonstrates wrinkle and fine‐line reduction, and improvement of other skin features without pain or any other unpleasant sensations or any social downtime associated with the treatment. The efficacy is evaluated objectively and subjectively by assessing the improvement of wrinkles and/or fine lines or skin texture after the treatment. The treatment is safe without side effects or social downtime, and all test subjects reported that the treatment is “perceptible but not painful.” Four out of the five subjects who participated in this pilot study were assessed to have “minor” to “significant” improvements of wrinkles and fine lines by the professional panels. The results of this clinical study are expected to bring a paradigm shift in the present laser- and light-based skin rejuvenation methods by introducing a safe treatment procedure without damaging the epidermis, with no or little social downtime and with an efficacy that might be comparable to ablative techniques.

Influence of absorption induced thermal initiation pathway on irradiance threshold for laser induced breakdown

“…Furthermore since a lower power is delivered over the same target area, the risks of collateral damage can also be reduced. These results have important implications on laser-based biomedical applications and in particular for the novel minimally invasive skin rejuvenation technique recently demonstrated by Philips Research using laser induced breakdown [2,3]. …”

“…These methods differ in technology, efficacy of treatment, patient discomfort, side effects and social downtime [1]. To overcome the limitations of these existing technologies, Philips Research has developed a novel minimally invasive laser technology for skin rejuvenation using laser induced optical breakdown [2,3]. The optical breakdown caused by tightly focused nearinfrared laser pulses in a grid of intradermal lesions leads to skin rejuvenation without affecting the epidermis [2].…”

“…The optical breakdown caused by tightly focused nearinfrared laser pulses in a grid of intradermal lesions leads to skin rejuvenation without affecting the epidermis [2]. This skin rejuvenation technique using laser induced optical breakdown has been indicated a strong potential for wrinkle and fine-line reduction [3].…”

Pigmented and Depressed Facial Scar after an External Injury: Successful Treatment with 1,064-nm Picosecond Neodymium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser Simply Combined with a Fractional Beam-Splitter Handpiece

“…It has been recently described that laserinduced optical breakdown in the skin in conjunction with picosecond-domain pulse durations led to a significant improvement in scar treatment. 10,11 Although the traditional non-ablative and ablative fractionated laser therapies are widely accepted to treat various types of scars, including the depressed one by targeting water absorption, those lasers are often accompanied by significant hyperpigmentation when treating more darkly pigmented skin, such as Asian skins. 12 However, as in our patient, the subjects treated by split laser beams of picosecond laser usually experienced minimal or no downtime with an excellent clinical outcomes.…”

Rejuvenation of the Aging Arm

“…They also represent a unique mechanism of action: the generation of laser-induced optical breakdown products at targeted cutaneous depths that eventuate in neocollagenesis and neoelastinogenesis, thus providing partial restoration of skin structure and function. 8 Although pigment lasers are undeniably effective at treating discrete lesions, the typical presentation of photodamage on the arms and forearms is often diffuse mottled dyspigmentation, which if treated solely with small-diameter spot size-specific pigment lasers may result in unsightly speckling. In these situations, uniform treatment of large surface areas is indicated.…”