Optimal Timing of Fractional CO 2 Laser on Cleft Lip Scars: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal time to apply a fractional CO 2 laser for the treatment of postsecondary repair scars in patients with cleft lip. METHODS: Forty-two patients with linear scarring after cleft lip repair were recruited from November 2021 to October 2022. A single-blind, randomized, controlled cohort study was conducted to examine the impact of fractional CO 2 laser treatment compared with conventional conservative treatment. Thirty patients started laser treatment at 1 month ( n = 10), 3 months ( n = 10), and 6 months ( n = 10) postoperatively, and 12 patients were in the control group. Each patient was treated with high-energy low-density fractional CO 2 laser treatment 3 times at an interval of 1 month. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used for scar evaluation to determine vascularity, pigmentation, pliability, and height. RESULTS: The VSS scores decreased significantly after laser treatment ( p < .05), with the most significant improvement in scars in the group that started treatment 1 month after the surgery. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative fractional CO 2 laser treatment of cleft lip scars is more effective than later treatment.