Lasers May Treat Burn Scars of Military, Civilians
04/20/2012
Fractional laser procedures may offer a treatment option for the estimated 1 million American who survive serious burn injuries each year, according to experts presenting at the ASLMS Annual Meeting in Kissimmee, FL. According to Jill Waibel, MD, credited with performing one of (or perhaps the) first fractional laser treatment on a burn victim, “Fractional ablative lasers have become an amazing tool for correcting both the aesthetic and functionality issues presented by serious burn scars.” Dr. Waibel, Medical Director at Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute, notes that lasers may be used in combination with traditional surgical procedures for best results. “Basically, we all believe that in combination with reconstructive surgery we think lasers are the gold standard that can help patients by increasing function of contracture scars and reducing the extent of disfiguring scars they often have,” she says. She also notes that lasers have been especially effective in treating large body surface areas and when used in the early stages of scarring in combination with steroid treatments.
Dr. Waibel and others are reviewing possible laser therapies for scar revision at the ASLMS meeting.
Dr. Waibel and others are reviewing possible laser therapies for scar revision at the ASLMS meeting.