An ultrastructural comparison of mechanical dermabrasion and carbon dioxide laser resurfacing in the minipig model.

OBJECTIVE To compare the histological and ultrastructural changes in skin collagen with mechanical dermabrasion and pulsed carbon dioxide laser resurfacing in the minipig model. SETTING Academic medical center. SUBJECTS Yucatan minipig animal skin model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Comparison of light microscopic and ultrastructural (electron microscopic) changes in the skin following the 2 resurfacing modalities. RESULTS No significant difference in collagen histological characteristics or ultrastructure was detected between the 2 comparison groups. CONCLUSIONS When mechanical dermabrasion or pulsed carbon dioxide laser resurfacing is used with similar-depth injury to the dermis in this model, the histological changes seen via light microscopy and ultrastructural changes seen via electron microscopy are similar between the 2 treatment modalities.