COSM13: Technological Advances Expand Range of Office-Based Otolaryngology Procedures

Dr. Wayne gave most of his attention to fractional ablation, so named because only some of the tissue is treated, rather than 100-percent ablation as seen with more traditional machines. “The idea is that you vaporize a portion of the tissue, and then you have healing from the sides,” he said. The typical patient wants a tighter face but without getting a facelift.

He said it’s a procedure with significantly reduced morbidity, faster healing, less risk of hypo- or hyperpigmentation and less skin redness. He said it will make the skin look better but couldn’t say definitively how long the results last. “I don’t tell patients this is permanent,” he said. “I tell them that, ‘You can’t stop the aging clock. This definitely will help make your skin look better. You may need to get additional treatments in the future.’ And it’s kind of the underselling/over-delivery we like to do in our practice.”

He added, “It’s an interesting area. Studies of long-term results are lacking, and the public wants these new technologies.”