Post-surgical facial scars are often associated with unaesthetic outcome. Treatment of these scars using various lasers could be beneficial; however, the use of the Q-switched fractional (QSF) 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser has yet to be evaluated for this indication. Our objective was to determine the safety and efficacy of a QSF-Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of post-surgical facial scars. Eleven (5 male, 6 female) patients who underwent facial surgery with significant scarring were treated using the QSF-Nd:YAG laser. Scars were exposed to 600-1200 mJ/stacked pulses (12-24 mJ per pixel), emitted at a rate of 10 Hz for up to 2 passes per treatment session, receiving overall 3-6 treatments. Patient follow-up was 3 months. Scars' photographs were blindly assessed by two dermatologists, who graded them on a scale of scar severity from 1 to 5 (1 = least severe, 5 = most severe) before and after treatment. A blinded before/after recognition of these photographs was also performed. Patient satisfaction was assessed 3 months post-treatment and graded on a scale of 1-5 (1 = not satisfied, 5 = very satisfied). Pain perception and adverse effects were also evaluated. Patients demonstrated a decrease in scar severity score by a mean of 1.57 points (p = 0.0005). A blinded before/after recognition was correct in 86.5% of the cases. Pain and adverse effects were mild and transient. Patient satisfaction was high (4.2). QSF-Nd:YAG laser is a safe and effective modality for the treatment of post-surgical facial scars.
Keywords: Nd:YAG; Non-ablative lasers; Scars, fractional lasers.