Radiosurgery versus carbon dioxide laser for dermatochalasis correction in Asians

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser and radiosurgery are techniques commonly employed in oculoplastic surgery. There are surprisingly few publications comparing their results in Asian blepharoplasty. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty Chinese patients with dermatochalasis underwent radiosurgery (Ellman Surgitron) in one upper eyelid and CO2 laser in the contralateral eyelid by the same surgeon. Subjects were evaluated on postoperative 1 hour, day 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 3 months after surgery for pain control, edema, erythema, ecchymosis and wound healing by a blinded assessor and patient questionnaires and scored to a scale of 1–6. RESULTS: Patients reported minimal intra-and postoperative pain with either technique. A shorter mean operative time was achieved with CO2 laser, due to superior intraoperative hemostasis. No significant intraoprative complications were noted in both techniques. There appeared to be no significant differences in postoperative edema, erythema, ecchymosis and wound healing between radiosurgery and CO2 laser. CONCLUSION: Both radiosurgery and CO2 laser are equally safe and effective surgical tools for the upper blepharoplasty in Asians.