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Pulse Dye Laser (PDL) is mainly used to treat vascular lesions but several studies performed in different research centers have shown the efficacy of this safe laser in the treatment of non-vascular lesions as well. The aim of this study was to review, sum up and summarize these studies.PDL is a known alternative for cryotherapy in the treatment of some viral lesions such as periungual warts and molluscum contagiosum.The effect of this laser in the management of inflammatory lesions is not yet known and there have been controversial results. PDL has a very little effect on these dematoses and it is limited to the lesions with a clear vascular component, such as psoriasis and acne. Finally, regarding collagen remodeling and its usage in rejuvenation and in the treatment of hypertrophic scars, keloid and striae, the results from various studies are different and while they confirm its possible effect, more studies have to be conducted in order to determine appropriate treatment parameters.

Background and Aim: Undesirable appearance of the scar tissue after aesthetic surgery can affect the outcomes and patient satisfaction. In recent years, early laser therapy had been encouraged to reduce the scar tissue formation. However, the available evidence regarding the outcomes of laser therapy utilizing combined lasers are limited. In the current study, the effects of combined laser therapy using pulsed dye laser (PDL) and fractional CO2 laser on the appearance of the scar tissue after aesthetic surgeries were investigated.

Methods: There were 15 patients enrolled in the current study including 13 mammoplasty and 2 abdominoplasty patients. In mammoplasty, each breast was randomly assigned to the laser therapy or control group. In abdominoplasty, split scar design was used. In laser therapy group, at the end of the third postoperative week, PDL 585 nm was radiated. Furthermore, at the end of the sixth week, fractional CO2 laser was radiated. The patients were followed for 6 months after the last laser therapy session. Visual analogue scale was used to rate the appearance of the scar tissues by 3 surgeons blinded to the treatment of scars. The appearance of the scars was determined as poor, fair, good or excellent. 

Results: VAS averaged 5.5±0.8 in laser therapy group and 4.8±0.8 in the control group. The difference was not statistically significant (P=0.057). There was no scar with excellent appearance in the current study. All of the scars were fair and good in the laser therapy group. In the control group, 13 scars were fair. The difference was not significant (P=0.227).

Conclusion: Early combined laser therapy using PDL and fractional CO2 laser was associated with improved appearance of the scar tissue in short-term follow up, however, the effects were not statistically significant.