Private: Non-ablative Non-fractional Lasers

Compare To Other Treatments

The charts below show the chances of developing various side effects from non-ablative non-fractional laser treatment.1-3 For some side effects, we currently do not have enough data to provide a percentage.

Certain/Likely Side Effects

SHORT TERM Swelling (edema)up to 100%
SHORT TERM Painup to 86%
SHORT TERM Scar necrosis*up to 29%
SHORT TERM Redness (erythema)(incidence not known)

*Scar necrosis: Scar necrosis refers to the death of tissue within a scar. It can cause your scar to become darker, redder, or even purplish, and can cause pain, swelling around the scar, and a change in the texture.

Possible/Rare Side Effects

SHORT TERM Acneiform eruption**up to 2%
SHORT TERM Skin wounds (erosions)up to 2%
SHORT TERM Prolonged redness (erythema)†less than 1%
SHORT TERM Skin darkening (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)less than 1%
SHORT TERM Prolonged swelling (edema)‡less than 1%
SHORT TERM Dermatitisless than 1%

*Acneiform eruption: An acneiform eruption is a skin outbreak resembling acne.

†Prolonged redness: This side effect was reported by one study in which patients experienced redness for more than 4 days.

‡Prolonged swelling: This side effect was reported by one study in which patients experienced swelling for more than 2 days.

Studies:

Only three studies have looked at the side effects of hypertrophic scar treatment with non-ablative non-fractional lasers.

  • Study 1:

    • Authors: Graber et al.1
    • Total # of patients: 422
    • # of female patients: 346
    • # of male patients: 76
    • Age of patients: (not reported)
    • Laser type: Erbium-doped laser 
    • Laser settings: 10 to 40J/cm2 (mean, 25 J/cm2) at densities of 125 to 250
    • Duration of treatment and follow-up: Multiple treatments, follow-up for up to 1 year
    • Side effects:
      • Acneiform eruption: 1.87%
      • Skin wounds (erosions): 1.35%
      • Skin wounds (erosions): 1.35%
      • Prolonged redness (erythema): 0.83%
      • Skin darkening (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation): 0.73%
      • Prolonged swelling (edema): 0.62%
      • Dermatitis: 0.21%
  • Study 2:

    • Authors: Li et al.2
    • Total # of patients: 21
    • # of female patients: (not reported)
    • # of male patients: (not reported)
    • Age of patients: 3-66
    • Laser type: Non-ablative laser with a semiconductor gallium arsenide (GaAs) emitting 1470 nm wavelengths of light 
    • Laser settings: 999.9 kJ/cm2
    • Duration of treatment and follow-up: 1 to 3 treatments, follow-up for 6 to 12
    • Side effects:
      • Swelling (edema): 100%
      • Pain: 85.71%
      • Scar necrosis: 28.57%
  • Study 3:

    • Authors: Tierney et al.3
    • Total # of patients: 12
    • # of female patients: (not reported)
    • # of male patients: (not reported)
    • Age of patients: 6-46
    • Laser type: Erbium-doped fiber lase
    • Laser settings: 70 mJ,  kJ/cm2
    • Duration of treatment and follow-up: 4 treatments, follow-up for 1 month
    • Side effects:
      • Swelling (edema): (percentage not reported)
      • Pain: (percentage not reported)
      • Redness (erythema): (percentage not reported)

Study 1: In a study published in 2008 in the journal Dermatologic Surgery, Graber and colleagues treated 422 patients with hypertrophic and keloid scars with an Er:Glass laser. Patients received multiple treatments at 1-month intervals and were followed up for up to 1 year after treatment to discuss side effects. The most commonly reported complication was acneiform eruption, followed by skin wounds. Moreover, the authors reported prolonged redness and swelling (edema) which lasted for more than 4 and 2 days, respectively.1

Study 2: In a study published in 2020 in the journal Scientific Reports, Li and colleagues treated 21 patients with hypertrophic scarring with a non-ablative laser, which emits 1470 nm wavelengths of light. Patients received 1 to 3 treatments on average in 1- to 2-month intervals and were followed up for 6 to 12 months. Swelling, pain, and scar necrosis were reported as the most common side effects. Scar necrosis refers to a change in scar color, pain, and swelling around the scar, as well as a change in the scar texture.2

Study 3: In a study published in 2009 in the journal Dermatologic Surgery, Tierney and colleagues treated 12 patients with hypertrophic scars with a non-ablative non-fractional laser. Patients received 4 treatments at 2-week intervals and were followed up for 1 month. Authors reported pain, swelling, and redness as common adverse effects but the exact number of patients who developed these adverse effects was not reported.3

References
  1. Graber EM, Tanzi EL, Alster TS. Side effects and complications of fractional laser photothermolysis: experience with 961 treatments. Dermatol Surg. 34(3), 301-5 (2008).
  2. Li K, Nicoli F, Cui C, Xi WJ, Al-Mousawi A, Zhang Z, Balzani A, Neill L, Sorge R, Tong Y, Zhang Y. Treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids using an intralesional 1470 nm bare-fibre diode laser: a novel efficient minimally-invasive technique. Sci Rep. 10(1), 21694 (2020).
  3. Tierney E, Mahmoud BH, Srivastava D, Ozog D, Kouba DJ. Treatment of surgical scars with nonablative fractional laser versus pulsed dye laser: a randomized controlled trial. Dermatol Surg. 35(8), 1172-80 (2009).

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