The Groove Optic handpiece from Palomar Medical Technologies Inc’s represents a significant improvement in fractional ablative skin resurfacing for users of the firm’s Lux2940 laser systems, according to the company.

The new handpiece, announced this week, creates a unique, grooved injury pattern on skin that increases ablative tissue coverage while preserving the benefits of fractional approaches, the company stated in a press release.
 
“No longer is CO2 the preferred option for physicians seeking single-treatment deep facial skin resurfacing for their patients. The Groove Optic for the Lux2940 hand piece represents a fractional-ablative approach to deep skin resurfacing that’s high coverage, yet preserves healthy skin, allowing rapid patient recovery and reduced risks of discomfort, infection and scarring,” said Paul Wiener, Palomar’s Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing.
 
Unlike available fractional ablative devices that remove vertical columns of tissue, the Groove Optic for the Lux2940 handpiece ablates lines of tissue resulting in a uniform, high-coverage pattern that promotes younger looking skin and more effectively disrupts the structural memory of wrinkles.

In a recent clinical study, patients treated with the Groove Optic for facial skin resurfacing reported minimal downtime (an average of 4 days), along with rapid resolution of side effects. Patient feedback from the study indicated that skin “felt tighter,” “looked smoother,” “wrinkles were reduced” and “skin had a more natural color and even skin tone.”

The study was conducted at Scripps Clinic, Carmel Valley, San Diego; and Boston Plastic Surgery Associates, Concord, Mass; according to the Palomar press release.
 
“Single treatments with the Groove Optic resulted in consistent and substantial reductions in wrinkles and dyschromia with excellent overall enhancement in the appearance of skin without corresponding increased side effects and downtime. This strategy improves the ratio of clinical benefits to side effects and downtime, representing a major advance in skin resurfacing treatment,” said E. Victor Ross, MD.

[Source: Palomar Medical Technologies Inc]