Ablative and Non-Ablative Facial Skin Rejuvenation

(2003) David J Goldberg. London: Martin Dunitz. ISBN 1 84184 175 7. 261 pages. Lasers have brought remarkable advances in the treatment of a variety of skin disorders, but with them hype, and none more so than in the field of facial rejuvenation. For this reason, it is a pleasure to see this new book on Ablative and Non‐Ablative Facial Skin Rejuvenation, which looks at lasers and also electrosurgical and non‐ablative rejuvenation techniques. It excludes chemical peels and dermabrasion – established techniques have been well described in other texts. The book starts with two useful background chapters reviewing the biology of collagen and cutaneous wound healing. Chapter 3 addresses carbon dioxide laser resurfacing and follows a pattern that is repeated in the following four chapters, which cover: Erbium YAG laser resurfacing; Combined Erbium YAG/CO2 and variable pulsed Erbium YAG laser resurfacing; Electrosurgical skin resurfacing and, finally Non‐Ablative dermal remodelling. Keypoints for the technique are highlighted at the beginning of each chapter and followed by background information, a summary of important clinical and scientific studies and a description of the author's personal experience and approach to the technique. Each chapter finishes with a series of clinical photographs showing patients before, and after treatment. The reproduction of the clinical photographs is surprisingly poor, and in many instances it is not possible to see any visible benefit after treatment. Were the Author's original photographs, digital images with limited resolution, and not ideal for publication? Martin Dunitz has published many books containing photographs of the highest quality and so it is disappointing not to see the usual high standard. Unfortunately, much of the educational value of these photographs has been lost due to their poor reproduction. There has also been rather too liberal use of the ‘copy and paste’ function on the word processor, which has resulted in a number of identical paragraphs being repeated throughout the book. After reading many of the same sentences in several different chapters, the reader begins to wonder if the remarks are really genuine. Chapter 8 covers the potential complications of rejuvenation techniques and the final chapter, written by Dr RS Mulholland deals with Marketing Facial Rejuvenation. This latter chapter provides an interesting insight into marketing and the various techniques and programmes which may be used to build up a business. This is a useful book containing a wealth of information but it is let down by the poor quality of the photographs that have been used.