Patients' Answers to a Postoperative Questionnaire Related to Laser Resurfacing

Abstract

To date there is no information that evaluates, from the patient's point of view, the experience of undergoing CO(2) laser skin resurfacing. This article investigates the outcome of laser resurfacing for various cutaneous problems with respect to the patient's expectations and experiences and the surgeon's opinions. Patients were entered into the study prospectively and presented with a questionnaire, at 12 months after treatment, to evaluate the patient's skin resurfacing experience. All patients received standardized preoperative counseling and underwent a standardized surgical protocol, conducted by the same surgeon. Eighty-eight percent of patients considered the result of the laser resurfacing to be very good, and 97% indicated that they had experienced little pain or discomfort. Nevertheless, 77% of patients stated that they would be unwilling to undergo another resurfacing procedure. This discrepancy is most likely the result of the patients' experiences in relation to the degree of erythema afterward. Most patients stated a desire to have more information regarding the procedure, particularly with respect to their experiences concerning postoperative erythema and exudates in the treated area. From the study it can be concluded that patients require extensive preoperative counseling, including a full explanation of all possible sequelae of these procedures to improve the patient's experience.

Long-pulsed Nd:YAG 1064nm in the treatment of leg veins: Check up of results at 6 months in 100 patients

“…The clinician and the computer analysis placed the objective assessments higher, at 64% and 71%, respectively (Table 3). This had been noticed in previous studies due to patients' expectations of results being higher than the realistic possibilities offered by treatment [8].…”

“…The second treatment 2 months after the first, was only carried out if the patient had not been satisfied with the results obtained with the first treatment and if the physician considered that the results could be improved upon if the treatment session was repeated. To this end, all patients were instructed prior to treatment as to the characteristics of the questionnaire and how improvement should be estimated, discussing the details with them of treatment, expectations and limitations [8]. They had been made to understand that improvement would require time (based upon relevant literature [9] and our own experience).…”

Patient satisfaction with laser hair removal

“…Patient satisfaction is of great importance with any form of treatment. It has been evaluated in other applications of laser therapy, such as resurfacing 7 and ophthalmological interventions 8 as well as hair removal 9,10 . A previous study 10 of patients receiving alexandrite laser treatment using a 5‐point assessment scale revealed similar satisfaction ratings in patients treated by physicians and nurses.…”

Treatment of leg veins with combined pulsed dye and Nd:YAG lasers: 60 patients assessed at 6 months

“…When patients were examined 2 months after the first treatment, a second treatment was given to those patients who were not satisfied with the results or when the treating physician thought that results could be improved with another laser session. Patients were instructed on scoring of improvement in questionnaires and possible imitations of laser treatment 9. It was explained that final results of treatment required several months 10.…”