Background: Combination laser treatments can potentially increase the effectiveness of treatment without the additional downtime associated with another procedure.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of combining non-ablative fractional treatments with optimized intense pulsed light.
Methods and materials: Ten subjects (Group A) received full face treatments with a non-ablative fractional either followed or preceded by an optimized intense pulsed light source. Twenty-six subjects (Group B) received only full face treatments with the same non-ablative, fractional laser device.
Results: For Group A, the overall average Fitzpatrick Wrinkle Scale for all patients improved from 6.3 ± 1.1 at baseline to 5.9 ± 0.8 one month following one treatment for an average improvement of 0.4 ± 0.6 (P < 0.10 paired t-test n = 9). The average pigment improvement score was 1.8 ± 0.9 on a 4-point scale. In Group B, the average Fitzpatrick Wrinkle Scale improved from 6.0 ± 1.6 at baseline to 5.2 ± 1.4 at 3 months for an average improvement of 0.8 ± 0.7 (P < 0.001, n = 26 paired t-test). The average pigment improvement score was 1.4 ± 1.0 (P < 0.001, t-test, n = 26). Adverse events were similar in the two groups.
Conclusion: The combination of an optimized intense pulsed light source with a non-ablative fractional laser during the same treatment session is safe and effective.
Keywords: IPL; combination; facial rejuvenation; fractional; intense pulsed light; laser; non-ablative.
© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.