The skin-tightening effects of 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser on human skin: an in vivo study.

[BACKGROUND] The 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser was developed to improve the removal of fat cells and to affect the underlying dermis with the aim of skin tightening. We conducted this study to evaluate whether this laser is effective in tightening the skin and causing histological alterations to dermal collagen fibers, fibroblasts, mucopolysaccharides, and elastin.

[METHODS] In a 38-year-old patient who was scheduled to undergo elective abdominoplasty, we subdermally performed laser-assisted treatment with the 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser using different power settings over periods of 3 months and 1 month and prior to surgery. Postoperatively, we evaluated the skin-tightening effect through histopathologic examination.

[RESULTS] On histopathology examination, the thickness of the dermis had gradually increased following the 3-month treatment with laser irradiation. In the treatment groups on the abdomen, the collagen fibers were arranged in a more parallel pattern and became denser than those in the control group. Likewise, fibroblast proliferation and the levels of mucopolysaccharides and elastin were higher in the treatment groups than in the control group.

[CONCLUSIONS] The 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser was effective in promoting the remodeling of the dermis and the regeneration of collagen fibers. As such, the 1,444-nm Nd:YAG laser could be used for skin tightening in addition to its function in lipolysis.

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