PARIS Light-emitting diode phototherapy improves tissue quality and leads to accelerated wound healing after cosmetic and medical surgical procedures, Mario Trelles, M.D., reported at the Fourth International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology World Congress.
Dr. Trelles uses combination light-emitting diode (LED) therapy with both near-infrared and visible red LED extremely narrowband (plus or minus 3- to 8-nm) arrays.
LED therapy promotes the anti-inflammatory process, activates blood circulation, and realigns collagen fibers. It reduces scabbing and erythema, without promoting keloids, he said.
Dr. Trelles is a pioneer of this application of LED energy. "It is not yet widespread because LED therapy is just at the beginning of its clinical practice, and like all 'new' therapies, it will take time to overcome the inherent 'conservatism' of many clinicians, particularly in the United States," Dr. Trelles told this newspaper.
In a series of 22 patients who underwent full face resurfacing and subsequent LED therapy, 12 patients experienced complete healing of facial tissue in 7 days, and the remaining 10 experienced complete healing in 911 days.
Several kinds of aesthetic procedures benefit from subsequent LED therapy, including surgical face-lifting, facial resurfacing, nonablative laser or intense pulsed light skin rejuvenation, upper eyelid blepharoplasty, breast augmentation or reduction, and removal of abnormally pigmented or nonpigmented cutaneous lesions.
Results are less dramatic with diabetic ulcers or chronic ulcers caused by vascular conditions.
"All surgical wounds respond well, but in general the more extensive the wound, the better the response," said Dr. Trelles, a plastic surgeon with the Institut Mèdic Vilafortuny in Cambrils, Spain.
Dr. Trelles outlined his treatment protocol: a 633-nm wavelength treatment and an 833-nm treatment in the first week; three treatments at 830 nm in the second week; and one treatment at 633 nm in the third week, followed by a 1-month treatment-free rest period and a single treatment at 633 nm.
The 20-minute sessions deliver a radiant flux of approximately 96 J/cm
Postprocedural maintenance is not usually required if patients are compliant in using skin moisturizers and photoprotection, he said.
Dr. Trelles currently uses no pretreatment preparation of the skin, even with antiherpes medication. In more than 300 resurfacing cases, his rate of herpes infection was "virtually nil," he said.