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Dermatology Times　 October 1, 2003 High frequency waves, minimal heat of radiosurgery beats lasers in specific areas By: Louise Gagnon San Diego - Radiosurgery is an effective option for patients undergoing various aesthetic procedures, posing a decreased risk of complications, according to retrospective research. Dr. Jorge Enrique Hidalgo, a postdoctoral professor of medicine at Peruvian University in Lima, Peru, conducted a study in his own practice of cases dating from November 1995 through November 2000. The review examined 949 cases of aesthetic surgical procedures and the removal of 350 superficial skin lesions, with radiosurgery being the method of intervention in all cases. The most recent cases were compared to 14 years of previous clinical practice where the traditional scalpel and electrosurgery were employed. Study Included Nevii, Skin Lesions About a third of the skin procedures were facelifts, nearly another third were lower transconjunctival blepharoplasties, another 175 were upper blepharoplasties, and the balance of the procedures were tummy tucks and breast reductions, among others. In terms of superficial skin lesions, about 130 were nevii, 98 were seborrheic keratosis, 75 were verrucous lesions, and 47 were basal cell carcinomas. Using radiosurgery reduces operating time, healing time, and minimizes the possibility of postoperative edema and bruising, said Dr. Hidalgo, who has practiced in Miami for about 20 years. There appear to be clear benefits using radiosurgery, he said. Radiosurgery requires high-frequency waves and minimal heat whereas laser surgery uses low radiofrequency and increased heat. One of the benefits is that accidental skin burns do not arise as they do with electrosurgery because patients are not exposed to the same degree of heat with radiosurgery. Dr. Hidalgo also conducted a histological study with 12 skin specimens to determine the degree of lateral thermal damage between radiosurgery compared to electrosurgery, an