Evolution of resurfacing: Ablative to non ablative
Objectives: The technique of resurfacing has evolved from conventional ablative to conventional non ablative to fractional ablative and non ablative to micro needle RF to sublative RF and now Nano sublative RF. This evolution happened due the quest for developing a technique of resurfacing that would be devoid of side effects as far as possible and produce maximum results at the same time.
As we have evolved we have seen that the newer techniques have slowly improved the outcomes.
The objective would be to understand and compare the outcomes of various resurfacing technologies in the Indian skins
Introduction: The technique of resurfacing has evolved from conventional ablative to conventional non ablative to fractional ablative and non ablative to micro needle RF to sublative RF and now Nano sublative RF. This evolution happened due the quest for developing a technique of resurfacing that would be devoid of side effects as far as possible and produce maximum results at the same time.
As we have evolved we have seen that the newer techniques have slowly improved the outcomes.
Materials / method: We have been observing the outcomes of all the resurfacing techniques right from the days of conventional laser dermabrasion with the CO2 laser to non ablative fractional, then ablative fractional and then the energy based devices like the micro needle RF and now the nano fractional RF. As the technologies have evolved the clinical outcomes have improved. The latest nano fractional resurfacing has further advantage of the possibility of playing around with the parameters of energy and pulse width so that we can control depth of penetration and degree of heating as may be required
Results: We have seen that the newer energy based technologies have an edge over the earlier light based ones. Combining the technologies has also led to getting the best out of each technology to give our patients a more wholesome outcome. The introduction of color blind technologies like the MNRF or the NFRF has made the technique of resurfacing more effective and relatively safe
Conclusion: The quest for improving outcomes and reducing the side effects has led to the evolution of the resurfacing techniques and technologies. This is a welcome evolution as the newer color blind technologies are particularly useful for our kind of dark skins where the light based technologies always pose a threat of post surgical side effects.