Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 45:135–140 (2013) Treatment of Hypertrophic Scars Using Laser and Laser Assisted Corticosteroid Delivery

contractures are common following various types of trau-ma and procedures despite skilled surgical and wound care. Following ample time for healing and scar matura-tion, many millions of patients are burdened with persis-tent symptoms and functional impairments. Cutaneous scars can be complex and thus the approach to therapy is often multimodal. Intralesional corticosteroids have long been a staple in the treatment of hypertrophic and restric-tive scars. Recent advances in laser technology and appli-cations now provide additional options for improvements in function, symptoms, and cosmesis. Fractional ablative lasers create zones of ablation at variable depths of the skin with the subsequent induction of a wound healing and collagen remodeling response. Recent reports suggest these ablative zones may also be used in the immediat