Use of either Er:YAG or CO2 ablative fractional laser on the neck should be performed with the least pulse energy, pulse density, and treatment fraction necessary to avoid complications and yet produce satisfactory improvement.
The presented cases provide a suggestion as to what parameters have proven excessive. Moreover, the pattern of linear scarring also suggests the possibility of excessive thermal injury via excessive overlap of energy application, he said.
As with traditional ablative resurfacing, patients undergoing fractional resurfacing need to be monitored carefully for infections. In addition, a history of plastic surgical procedures should be elicited prior to undergoing these procedures, since these may result in neck skin being placed above the jaw line.
Dr. Avram has received honoraria from Reliant Technologies.
Caution should be taken when treating the neck with any ablative procedure, as scarring (shown above)can occur. Courtesy Dr. Mathew M. Avram