J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  1997 May;24(3):614-620.

UPPER EYELID BLEPHAROPLASTY USING CARBON DIOXIDE LASER

• Ahn SB
• Lim SR
• Jung SG
• Kim CH

Abstract

The safety and efficacy of the CO2laser as a replacement for the steel scalpel is well documented in plastic surgery, but the use of the laser blepharoplasty has been controversy. This study compares and contrasts the use of the CO2 laser with conventional method in cosmetic upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Thirteen Patients underwent blepharoplasty in a paired comparison study. Four patients(Group A) underwent blepharoplasty by laser, another four patients (Group B) underwent blepharoplasty by conventional method, and the other five patients(Group C) underwent upper eyelid blepharoplasty using the laser on one eye and a conventional method on the other side. Preoperative factor(set up time, equipment), intraoperative factor(actual operation time, bleeding, visibility), postoperative factor(swelling, ecchymosis, immediate & short term result) were evaluated. The advantage of using the CO2 laser rather than the steel scalpel in blepharoplasty are less bleeding and superior intraoperative visibility. The disadvantage of using the laser compared with steel scalpel include the cost of purchasing and maintaining the laser equipment, the need for additional and extensive laser training for surgeons and assistants, and the need for two assistants rather than the one needed for scalpel surgery There were no complications with either the scalpel or the laser.

MeSH Terms

Bleeding Time
Blepharoplasty*
Carbon Dioxide*
Carbon*
Ecchymosis
Eyelids*
Hemorrhage
Humans
Lasers, Gas*
Matched-Pair Analysis
Steel
Surgery, Plastic
Carbon
Carbon Dioxide
Steel