Treatment of periorbital wrinkles with 1550- and 1565-nm Er:glass fractional photothermolysis lasers: a simultaneous split-face trial

Abstract Objective This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacies of 1550‐ and 1565‐nm Er:glass lasers in the treatment of periorbital wrinkles and to evaluate histological changes after treatment. Methods Twenty patients received five treatments each at 3‐week intervals. The right periorbital area was exposed to the 1550‐nm Er:glass laser and the left periorbital area was exposed to the 1565‐nm Er:glass laser. Clinical improvement was evaluated by two blinded physicians who assessed comparative photographs using a four‐point scale at baseline and 3 months after the final treatments. Skin biopsies were performed in five volunteers before treatment and at 3 months after the final treatment. Results The mean improvement scores 3 months after treatment with the 1550‐ and 1565‐nm Er:glass lasers were 2.25 ± 0.62 and 2.28 ± 0.59 respectively. Histological examination revealed increased epidermal thickening and decreased solar elastosis 3 months after the final laser treatments. Conclusions Both 1550‐ and 1565‐nm Er:glass lasers are safe and effective modalities in the treatment of periorbital wrinkles with no significant differences between the two lasers.