ArticleArchives of plastic surgery2021
Early postoperative treatment of mastectomy scars using a fractional carbon dioxide laser: a randomized, controlled, split-scar, blinded study.
Article in Archives of plastic surgery, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fractional COJournal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of Laser and Energy-based Device Therapies to Minimize Surgical Scar Formation: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2024Pooled it
- The Efficacy of Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser in Surgical Scars Treatment: A system Review and Meta-analysis.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2023Pooled it
- A Retrospective Analysis of the Effectiveness of Fractional CO₂ Laser Therapy in Treating Linear Scars: Investigating the Ideal Timing for Intervention.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Trial
- The efficacy of a fractionated 1064-nm picosecond Nd: YAG laser compared with a pulsed dye laser for postoperative scar prevention: a prospective split-scar study.Lasers in medical science · 2026Article
- Comparative Efficacy of Dynamic and Contact Cooling With the Fifth-generation Pulsed Dye Laser for Breast Surgical Scars in Cancer Survivors.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Does Earlier Laser Intervention for Post-Surgery Scars Yield Superior Outcomes?Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2026Article
- Scars.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2023Review
- The Role of Physical Therapies in Wound Healing and Assisted Scarring.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMastectomy leaves unsightly scarring, which can be distressing to patients. Laser therapy for scar prevention has been consistently emphasized in recent studies showing that several types of lasers, including fractional ablation lasers, are effective for reducing scar formation. Nonetheless, there are few studies evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of ablative CO2 fractional lasers (ACFLs).
methodsThis study had a randomized, comparative, prospective, split-scar design with blinded evaluation of mastectomy scars. Fifteen patients with mastectomy scars were treated using an ACFL. Half of each scar was randomized to "A," while the other side was allocated to group "B." Laser treatment was conducted randomly. Scars were assessed using digital photographs of the scar and Vancouver scar scale (VSS) scores. Histological assessments were also done.
resultsThe mean VSS scores were 2.20±1.28 for the treatment side and 2.96±1.40 for the control side. There was a significant difference in the VSS score between the treatment side and the control side (P=0.002). The mean visual analog scale (VAS) scores were 4.13±1.36 for the treatment side and 4.67±1.53 for the control side. There was a significant difference in VAS score between the treatment side and the control side (P=0.02).
conclusionsThis study demonstrated that early scar treatment using an ACFL significantly improved the clinical results of the treatment compared to the untreated scar, and this difference was associated with patient satisfaction.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.