Periorbital ablative and nonablative resurfacing.

Abstract

Ablative resurfacing using laser systems for facial rejuvenation, especially in the periorbital areas, has effectively replaced chemical peels. Refined methods yield outstanding efficacy with significantly fewer side effects as compared with the prototypical lasers of decades past. Despite these technologic refinements, the trend toward minimally invasive rejuvenation techniques has placed a substantial emphasis on the many nonablative modalities available to the practitioner. Although the clinical efficacy to date has been less with the nonablative devices, the lack of substantial morbidity has made the devices marketable to a large population of patients despite their modest results at best and highly unpredictable results at worst. Numerous options, ablative and nonablative, are now available for the patient desiring improvement in periorbital rhytids.