Combined techniques of ablative skin resurfacing: Phenol, trichloroacetic acid

Abstract

Skin resurfacing is a vital component to an overall, global strategy for comprehensive facial rejuvenation that would include facial lifting procedures to counteract gravity, volume restoration to combat soft-tissue depletion associated with aging, and other ancillary modalities, like botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. Skin resurfacing can be divided into two principal categories: ablative and non-ablative. Non-ablative therapies include laser, light, and radiofrequency treatments in which the epidermis is not violated, thereby limiting recovery time but which would also potentially be less effective compared with ablative therapies. Ablative skin resurfacing entails a treatment modality (chemical, laser, and/or mechanical) that removes the overlying epidermis and partial thickness of the dermal layer in order to elicit the desired rejuvenation. By their very nature, ablative therapies require a convalescence of varying duration when the individual will not look socially acceptable. The myriad ablative skin options carry with them unique profiles that include the extent of rejuvenation, viz., the capacity to eliminate rhytids, improve dyschromias and other skin abnormalities, and a proportionate degree of recovery time depending on the depth of imparted injury. © Springer-Verlag 2008.