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.