Split-face comparison study of cryogen spray cooling versus pneumatic skin flattening in skin tightening treatments using a long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: NdYAG pulsed lasers are used for non-ablative skin tightening treatment. A common drawback of this procedure is pain, which is often intolerable. Pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) is a new technology which alleviates pain in laser treatments. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical efficacy and pain reduction in NdYAG laser skin tightening treatments with PSF compared to NdYAG laser skin tightening treatments with cryogen spray cooling (CSC). METHODS: Eleven patients were treated on the face with an NdYAG laser operated at an energy setting of 30 J/cm(2) and a pulse duration of 50 ms. Half of the face was treated with the NdYAG using CSC and the other side was treated with the NdYAG using PSF. A comparison of pain elicited from each treatment was done by comparing each patient's VAS pain scoring of the two sides. RESULTS: Treatment efficacy with CSC and with PSF was identical. The study confirmed significant pain reduction with PSF (p < 0.01). The average pain scores for PSF and CSC were 2.4 and 6.9, respectively. Mild ecchymosis was observed in two patients on the PSF side. CONCLUSION: NdYAG laser skin tightening treatments with PSF are less painful than NdYAG laser skin tightening treatments with CSC; the PSF treatments can be done with minimum side effects.