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Results From 2 Years of Follow-up

R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH; Carolyn I. Jacob, MD; Lori Hobbs, MD; Kenneth A. Arndt, MD; Jeffrey S. Dover, MD, FRCPC

Arch Dermatol. 2003;139:1295-1299.

Background  Laser skin resurfacing (LSR) is a common cosmetic surgical procedure, yet there are no prospective long-term studies on patients' perceptions of their procedure.

Objective  To prospectively document patients' subjective experiences after LSR.

Design  Twenty-seven consecutive patients who underwent combination carbon dioxide/erbium:YAG full-face laser resurfacing for acne scarring or photodamage were surveyed at postoperative days 1 and 3, within 1 week, at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 30 months and asked standardized questions.

Setting  Referral-based academic practice.

Results  One day after LSR, 10 patients (37%) were concerned about the outcome, and 3 (11%) considered it a "terrible" experience. At 2.7 days after the procedure, 23 patients (85%) would recommend LSR, and after 3.7 days, 24 (89%) would have the procedure again. At 3 months, the patients' mean rating of appearance was 2.3 (0-3 scale), and all 27 (100%) felt that their appearance had been improved by LSR. After 30 months, 18 patients (75%) would recommend the procedure, 17 (71%) would have LSR again, 21 (88%) felt that their appearance was improved, and final appearance was rated 1.8 (0-3 scale). Patients undergoing LSR to treat acne scarring were as satisfied as patients treated for photodamage.

Conclusions  Data on the evolution of patient perspective after LSR can improve patient preparation. This may help the surgeon and patient achieve shared, realistic expectations for the postoperative period and for long-term results.

From the Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (Dr Batra); Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill (Dr Jacob); Division of Dermatology, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, Calif (Dr Hobbs); Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (Dr Arndt); Section of Dermatolgic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn (Drs Arndt and Dover); Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH (Drs Arndt and Dover); and SkinCare Physicians of Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, Mass (Drs Arndt and Dover). The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.

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