A systematic review of comparative studies of CO2 and erbium:YAG lasers in resurfacing facial rhytides (wrinkles)

Kee-Hsin Chen; Ka-Wai Tam; I-Fan Chen; Shihping Kevin Huang; Pei-Chuan Tzeng; Hsian-Jenn Wang; Chiehfeng Cliff Chen

doi:10.1080/14764172.2017.1288261

A systematic review of comparative studies of CO₂ and erbium:YAG lasers in resurfacing facial rhytides (wrinkles)

J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2017 Aug;19(4):199-204. doi: 10.1080/14764172.2017.1288261. Epub 2017 Feb 6.

Authors

Kee-Hsin Chen^{1

2

3

4

5}, Ka-Wai Tam^{4

6

7}, I-Fan Chen⁸, Shihping Kevin Huang⁹, Pei-Chuan Tzeng¹⁰, Hsian-Jenn Wang^{11

12}, Chiehfeng Cliff Chen^{4

11

12

13}

Affiliations

¹ a Department of Nursing , Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
² b School of Nursing, College of Nursing , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
³ c Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine , Chang Gung University , Taoyuan City , Taiwan.
⁴ d Cochrane Taiwan , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
⁵ e Evidence-Based Knowledge Translation Center, Wan Fang Medical Center , Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
⁶ f Department of Surgery , Taipei Medical University - Shuang Ho Hospital , New Taipei City , Taiwan.
⁷ g Department of Surgery , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
⁸ h Graduate Institute of Management of Technology , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu , Taiwan.
⁹ i Institute of Management of Technology , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu , Taiwan.
¹⁰ j Department of Medical Education and Research , Wan Fang Medical Center, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
¹¹ k Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery , Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
¹² l Department of Surgery , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taiwan.
¹³ m Department of Public Health , School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.

PMID: 28166434
DOI: 10.1080/14764172.2017.1288261

Abstract

Background: Laser resurfacing is used to minimize wrinkles, solar scars and sequelae of acne.

Objective: Purpose of the systematic review was to compare resurfacing outcomes of CO₂ laser and erbium: yttrium aluminium garnet (erb:YAG) laser therapies.

Materials and methods: Medline, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases were searched until 9 April 2015 using the following terms: laser, carbon dioxide/CO₂, facial wrinkles, rhytides and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet/erbium:YAG/Er:YAG. Two-armed controlled split faced studies that compared CO₂ laser and erbium:YAG laser in patients with mild-to-moderate facial wrinkles or rhytides were included.

Results: The pooled data in this study and findings of other studies support the greater efficacy with the CO₂ laser in improving facial wrinkles, but the erb:YAG laser was associated with a better complication profile compared with the CO₂ laser. Except one case of hypopigmentation, other complications (i.e., erythema, hyperpigmentation and crusting) and their rates were reported by studies examining both lasers.

Conclusion: In general, the CO₂ laser appeared to be more efficacious then the erb:YAG laser in treating facial wrinkles. Both lasers treatments were well tolerated.

Keywords: CO2; erbium:YAG laser; rhytides; wrinkles.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Carbon Dioxide / therapeutic use*
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures
Erbium / therapeutic use*
Female
Humans
Laser Therapy / statistics & numerical data*
Lasers, Solid-State / therapeutic use*
Male
Rhytidoplasty / instrumentation
Rhytidoplasty / methods*
Skin Aging
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Carbon Dioxide
Erbium