Laser surgery skin

Laser surgery is a medical procedure that uses laser light to remove diseased tissues or treat bleeding blood vessels. Laser surgery may also be used for cosmetic purposes, such as removing wrinkles, sunspots, tattoos, or birthmarks.

Description
A laser is a light beam that can be precisely focused. It is used to treat tissues by heating the targeted cells until they "burst."

There are several types of lasers, including the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, the YAG (yttrium aluminum garnet) laser, alexandrite, KTP, & the pulsed dye laser. Each laser has specific uses. The color of the light beam used is directly related to the type of surgery being performed & the color of the tissue being treated.

Why the Procedure is Performed
Laser surgery can be used to:

• Close small blood vessels to reduce blood loss
• Remove warts, moles, sunspots, & tattoos
• Reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles, scars, & other skin blemishes
• Remove dilated blood vessels from the face
• Remove hair
• Remove precancerous lesions (actinic keratoses)

Risks
Possible risks of laser surgery include:

• Activation of the herpes simplex virus, leading to cold sores
• Bleeding
• Incomplete treatment of the problem
• Infection
• Pain
• Scarring
• Skin color changes

Some laser surgery is done when you are under general anesthesia. Be sure to discuss the risks with your health care provider.

After the Procedure
How well a patient does depends on the condition being treated. Always talk to your health care provider about your expected recovery before surgery.

You may need to keep the skin moisturized & protected from the sun.

Outlook (Prognosis)
The amount of time it takes to recover from surgery depends on the surgery & on the person. Based on an evaluation of your health before surgery, your health care provider can give you a good estimate of the recovery time.

Posted in: Health