Aesthetic treatment for wrinkle reduction and rejuvenation
View Patent ↗A dermatological treatment method includes directing laser energy having a wavelength of 2.79 μm onto skin. According to disclosed methods, the energy can function to ablate a first portion of epidermal tissue, coagulate an underlying second portion of epidermal tissue, and promote collagen formation in tissue of the underlying dermis. In an exemplary treatment apparatus, a laser using a YSGG gain medium is mounted in a handpiece. The handpiece may include a two-axis scanner to allow for uniform scanning of the energy over the tissue surface.
1. A method of treating the skin comprising the steps of:
generating a pulsed beam of laser radiation, said radiation having a wavelength of 2.79 microns; and
scanning the pulsed beam over the skin in a series of spots within a treatment region, wherein the fluence and pulse width are selected to ablate the skin to a depth of between 20 and 50 microns and to create a layer of coagulated tissue of between 30 and 50 microns below that ablation depth, at least a portion of that coagulated tissue subsequently peeling from the skin.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the pulsed beam is scanned in a manner so that the spots are spaced apart.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the pulsed beam is scanned in a manner so that the spots are adjacent each other to create a continuous pattern.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the radiation is generated from a YSGG gain medium.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein treatment resurfaces the skin.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein treatment reduces wrinkles.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein treatment reduces discoloration of the skin.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fluence at each spot is selected to be between 2 and 5 J/cm 2 .