rhinophyma: Erbium YAG + CO2 laser

The Gold Standard for Decortication of Rhinophyma: Combined Erbium-YAG/CO₂ Laser

From Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Volume 28, Number 6, December 2004, Pages: 456 - 460.

Abstract:Rhinophyma is a benign condition of the nose that often is severely disfiguring and occasionally causes functional problems. A considerable proportion of the patients, with rhinophyma are elderly with chronic medical problems. Electrocautery, heated scalpel, carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, argon laser, Weck blade, dermabrasion, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, full-thickness excision, skin graft, flap reconstruction, and cold scalpel have been used either alone or in combination. All these techniques have disadvantages that are resolved by using the combined erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG)/CO2 laser. The authors present their technique and the results from decortication of rhinophyma using a combined erbium:YAG/CO2 laser. The technique requires only local anesthesia with a vasoconstrictor. The combination of an efficient vaporization tool consisting of the erbium:YAG laser and the CO2 coagulation laser provides a nearly bloodless field for accurate sculpting of the nose and produces cosmetically pleasing results.

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Read more about: laser therapy, rhinophyma