Rejuvenation and resurfacing
Treatment of barcode
(perioral wrinkles) with ablative lasers
The appearance of wrinkles in the perioral area is subject to factors such as age, previous exposure to the sun, smoking and genetics. Initially, these wrinkles are only visible when gesturing, whereas after a certain age, they will also become apparent at rest and may be associated with other signs of photoaging (lentigines, keratosis, telangiectasias).
Although various techniques have been proposed to improve their appearance (microneedling, chemical peels, hyaluronic acid infiltration), one of the most effective and long-lasting treatments is the fractional ablative laser (such as Co2 or Er:YAG 2940nm).
What are the effects of age, smoking, and Glogau stage? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Sep;20(9):2800-2804.
doi: 10.1111/jocd.13984. Epub 2021 Feb 14. PMID: 33550718.
Facial Plast Surg. 2014 Feb;30(1):55-61. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1364223. Epub 2014 Jan 31. PMID: 24488638.
Frequently asked questions
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The ablative CO2 fractional laser treatment creates small, microscopic zones of thermal damage, from which new collagen is generated slowly and progressively.
These wrinkles can be addressed in two ways. With several low intensity CO2 sessions (3-4), or with a single higher intensity session (longer recovery time and inflammation after the procedure). There is a high risk of residual erythema for a few months, especially in light phototypes.
The improvement is considered to be between 30 and 50%, although this depends on the individual’s ability to produce new collagen.
Treatment of this anatomical region with CO2 laser shows progressive improvement over the course of months. During the first few weeks these wrinkles may even be accentuated (due to tissue retraction), and then progressively show a better texture and attenuation of the wrinkles. The maximum effect is considered to occur 18 months after the procedure.
Some patients do not have sufficient capacity to generate collagen after treatment despite the use of sufficiently intense parameters. In these cases, other techniques, such as hyaluronic acid infiltration, may be considered to improve the final result.
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