Treatment of periorbital wrinkles with 1550- and 1565-nm Er:glass fractional photothermolysis lasers: a simultaneous split-face trial.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacies of 1550- and 1565-nm Er:glass lasers in the treatment of periorbital wrinkles and to evaluate histological changes after treatment.

Methods: Twenty patients received five treatments each at 3-week intervals. The right periorbital area was exposed to the 1550-nm Er:glass laser and the left periorbital area was exposed to the 1565-nm Er:glass laser. Clinical improvement was evaluated by two blinded physicians who assessed comparative photographs using a four-point scale at baseline and 3 months after the final treatments. Skin biopsies were performed in five volunteers before treatment and at 3 months after the final treatment.

Results: The mean improvement scores 3 months after treatment with the 1550- and 1565-nm Er:glass lasers were 2.25±0.62 and 2.28±0.59 respectively. Histological examination revealed increased epidermal thickening and decreased solar elastosis 3 months after the final laser treatments.

Conclusions: Both 1550- and 1565-nm Er:glass lasers are safe and effective modalities in the treatment of periorbital wrinkles with no significant differences between the two lasers.