Oleg Matyunin: Er:YAG Laser Assisted Earlobes Repair
The growing practice of ear piercing has resulted in an increasing number of requests for ear lobe repairs in surgical practice. A variety of techniques have been described in the literature for correction of earlobe deformities. All involve surgical removal of the scar epithelium followed by different methods of suturing to close the tear and restore the earlobe architecture. We report here on 5 cases of treatment of various ear lobe deformities, utilizing a 2940 nm Er:YAG laser (Dualis SP, Fotona). Efficient de-epithelialization can be performed using a combination of planar and fractional ablative Er:YAG short pulses, allowing for a fast healing process and comfort for the patient. Furthermore, laser excision combined with topical corticosteroid revealed to be successful in earlobe keloid removal.