7. Consideration of Hypertrophic Scaring After Treatment of Extensive Tattoos with a CO2 Laser
Mitsuhiro Yamamoto1 and Masayuki Miyata2 1:Yamamoto Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, Niigata, Japan 2:Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
A CO2 laser, which has powerful transpiration and coagulation abilities, is an effective tool for removing extensive tattoos; however, post-operative hypertrophic scarring is inevitable and is more severe than that caused by ordinary treatments. The reasons why severe hypertrophic scarring occurs after treatment using a CO2 laser are as follows: 1) The tattoos are at regions where keloid and hypertrophic scaring tends to occur. 2) Patients want to manage the wounds themselves after treatment; however, this usually causes wound infection. 3) The powerful transpiration and coagulation abilities of a CO2 laser damage the tissues around tattoos and delay wound healing. Nevertheless, patients can be satisfied with this treatment because it completely removes tattoos.
