Is the fractional C02 laser able to completely remove syringomas?

Doctor's Answers 3

No, syringoma and sebaceous hyperplasia cannot be completely removed! You can only flatten the lump and leave what is left in the dermis or you will just create a hole in the skin. Over time (a few years), it will slowly grow back.

The idea of flattening them is so that you can cover it better with make up and lose the 3D effect which is almost impossible to cover.

This issue cannot be removed completely with any treatment, not because of the treatment used but because the growth exist in the dermis. But the gold standard is still CO2 laser due to precision and less collateral damage.

You can flatten it in a few sessions but the skin colour is always going to be different as the areas with syringoma or sebaceous hyperplasia is white devoid of melanin unlike your normal skin tone. Hope that helps.

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Dr Joanna Chan

Aesthetic, General Practitioner

The CO2 laser is able to remove syringomas. Studies show this procedure to be effective and safe with minimal side effects. There are other techniques such as use of TCA (trichloroacetic acid) and radiofrequency ablation as well.

Combination therapy of the above has yielded good success in general in terms of complete ablation and good cosmetic results without significant side effects. However, the recurrence rates are high with any treatment modality including laser ablation.

I prefer to use the CO2 laser in the ablative mode for treating syringomas. Fractional CO2 laser generally requires multiple passes and consecutive treatments (ie more than 2 times as per your question) at one-month intervals to achieve the same results (International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 2017).

Hope this helps!

Regards,

Dr. Joanna Chan

Several modalities can be used to remove growths on the face, and these growths include enlarged sweat glands, or syringomas.

These modalities include radiofrequency needle devices and CO2 lasers.

While these lesions can be removed in one to two sessions of laser sessions, they do tend to recur within several months.

To reduce recurrence some topical treatment with retins/differin or acid-based toners may help to reduce the occurrence of benign growths on the face.

Feel free to arrange for a proper consultation to further discuss the issue and expectations of management.

Best Regards,
Dr Shane Tan

Similar Questions

How effective is fractional Co2 laser vs Infini RF for acne scars?

Good questions! I agree with Dr Chua’s reply on the pros and cons of Fractional CO2 lasers versus Infini RF. In addition, I would like to address your question on the ideal length of time between subcision and Infini RF treatments. The ideal interval between treatments is 4-6 weeks. This is to allow for adequate skin recovery. Hope that this answers your questions!

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Answered By

Human

What is the ideal length of time between subcision and fractional CO2 laser treatment for acne scars?

To address your questions: 1. Generally subcision (I assume with some collagen stimulators) will lead to collagen stimulation, and this is also what CO2 laser aims to do. Some experts suggest that an interval of at least 4 – 6 weeks is kept between each collagen-stimulating treatment for optimal results. There is no real good answer – as social downtime and other considerations have to be taken into account by the doctor in recommending the treatments. My personal preference though is not to stretch the treatment too wide apart – 6 months does seem to me to be a little long.

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Answered By

Dr Winston Lee

Aesthetic

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