Background: Skin tightening is a desirable outcome for skin flaccidity.
Objective: We evaluated the applicability, safety, capacity and intensity of skin tightening with the subdermal 1,064 nm Nd: YAG laser application to the upper arms, and compared the results with liposuction.
Materials and methods: Patients with lipodystrophy and mild-to-severe skin laxity of the arms were included (n=28). In half of patients, a single treatment with a subcutaneous laser and liposuction was performed, while the other 14 had a regular liposuction. Treatment parameters, adverse effects and photographic documentation were recorded.
Results: Aesthetic improvement and skin retraction was superior by laser lipolysis. The procedure was well tolerated without significant complications.
Conclusions: The subdermal laser-assisted liposuction using a 1,064 nm Nd: YAG laser achieves improved skin tightening.
Keywords: Laser lipolysis; liposuction; skin tightening.