Will nonablative rejuvenation replace ablative lasers? Facts and controversies

Treatment of Periorbital Wrinkles With a Novel Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedle System in Dark-Skinned Patients

“…9-12 However, several treatment sessions are required to achieve tangible cosmetic improvement and therapeutic results are still inferior to traditional ablative lasers. [9][10][11][12] Ablative FP systems such as 10,600-nm CO 2 or 2,940-nm erbium-yttrium aluminum garnet are available and are used for more effective treatments than nonablative FP. Ablative FP laser treatment creates real skin ablative holes rather than MTZ.…”

“…[5][6][7][8] However, the annual number of treatment sessions has declined because of significant downtime and unacceptable risk profiles including edema, long-standing erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, infection, and scarring. 9 Thus, patients are seeking procedures without risks and the prolonged recovery of ablative laser treatment. This demand has led to the development of nonablative devices that minimize risk profiles.…”

Cosmetic Devices Based on Active Transdermal Technologies

“…These lasers are used for more invasive skin reconstruction, although the potential side effects and recovery time make usage of both lasers less than ideal for most patients, and a nonoption for Fitzpatrick skin types greater than IV due to the high incidence of severe hyperpigmentation and scarring [32]. CO 2 and Er:YAG lasers emit wavelengths of light at "10,600 nm and 2940 nm," respectively [31]. Due to having a lower wavelength of light emitted, and also lesser reported damage to the epidermal layers, ER:YAG is more commonly used for photodamaged skin and wrinkles.…”

“…Ablative lasers include CO 2 ( Figure 2) and erbium: yttrium (Er:YAG) aluminum garnet lasers [6,31]. These lasers are used for more invasive skin reconstruction, although the potential side effects and recovery time make usage of both lasers less than ideal for most patients, and a nonoption for Fitzpatrick skin types greater than IV due to the high incidence of severe hyperpigmentation and scarring [32].…”

“…In cosmetic usage, lasers are classified in two categories: ablative and nonablative [30,31]. Due to the limitations of these types of lasers (discussed in the next paragraph), newer categories of lasers such as IPL (intense pulsed light), radiofrequency and fractionated lasers have also been developed with improved efficacy in mind [9,31].…”