Treatment of Massive Rhinophyma with the Carbon Dioxide Laser

Abstract

A case of massive rhinophyma that produced significant functional and cosmetic difficulties was treated using the carbon dioxide laser. Minimal bleeding occurred during the operative procedure despite the grotesque enlargement and high degree of vascularity of the skin and soft tissue. Using this technique, restoration of normal function and excellent cosmesis was possible without complication.

Rosacea and its management: an overview

“…57 Laser therapy is used as a method of vaporizing the excessive tissues present in rhinophyma, while maintaining minimal blood loss and good visualization. Two types of laser, carbon dioxide [66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74] and argon 75,76 have shown success in treating rhinophyma. The carbon dioxide laser vaporizes skin in several layers using a continuous beam with a spot size of 0.2-0.5 mm.…”

Laser treatment of rosacea

“…It also produces effective haemostasis for blood vessels up to 0.5 mm in diameter 7 . In addition, the defocused beam allows feathering of the wound margins into the surrounding normal skin, resulting in a better cosmetic appearance 24 . Alternatively, people have used a dermabrader to blend the edges of resection with the normal tissue 25 .…”

Tratamiento del rinofima con láser de CO2: Presentación de un caso

“…El láser CO2 emite una luz confluente, monocroma y coherente con una longitud de onda de 10.600 nanómetros, que provoca la destrucción de lesiones en la epidermis y dermis. 5 Se utiliza en el tratamiento de numerosas lesiones cutáneas tanto benignas como malignas, siendo el láser de CO2 el más adecuado para el tratamiento del rinofima. 6 Las ventajas del láser CO2 sobre otras técnicas resectivas son el daño mínimo a tejidos adyacentes, la pequeña reacción inflamatoria y la pequeña reacción proliferativa durante la curación.7…”

“…CO2 emits a light that is confluent, monochrome and coherent with a wave length of 10.600 nanometers, which causes the destruction of lesions in the epidermis and dermis. 5 It is used in for treatment of numerous benign as well as malignant skin lesions, and the CO2 laser is considered the most suitable for rhinophyma. 6 The advantages of CO2 over other resective techniques is the minimal damage to adjacent tissue, the small inflammatory reaction and the small proliferative reaction during healing.…”