The use of lasers for different purposes has given so many advantages. As it has been known, a laser means using a laser light source or also known as a laser beam, to remove tissues that have conditions through its light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. The so-called laser beams are intense beams of light produced by electrically stimulating a particular material.
In fact, general surgeons employ various laser wavelengths and laser delivery systems to cut, coagulate, vaporize, and remove tissue. Most laser surgeries use genuine laser devices in place of conventional surgical tools like cryosurgery probes, scalpels, electrosurgical units, or microwave devices to perform standard procedures. With the help of lasers, the skilled and trained surgeon can accomplish more complex tasks, such as decreasing postoperative patient discomfort, reducing blood loss, decreasing the chances of infection to the wound, minimizing the surgery extent of surgery in some cases, reducing the spread of some cancers, and achieving better outcomes in wound healing.
What Are The Different Uses Of Laser?
The use of lasers in surgeries gives many indications. Below are some of the more common indications:
- cauterize or seal blood vessels to reduce blood loss
- destroy or cut tissue that is abnormal or diseased without harming healthy, normal tissue
- close lymph vessels to minimize swelling and decrease the spread of tumor cells
- block nerve endings to reduce postoperative pain
- shrink or destroy tumors and lesions
Also, the laser is cosmetically used to:
- decrease the appearance of skin wrinkles
- lessen or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes, or scars
- remove warts, moles, birthmarks, and sun spots
- remove hair
- remove tattoos
Often, laser surgery is a standard operating procedure for specialists in the following field:
- cardiology (heart and the treatment of its diseases)
- dentistry (teeth anatomy, development, and its conditions)
- dermatology (science that treats the skin, its structure, functions, and its diseases)
- gastroenterology (science that treats disorders of the stomach and intestines)
- gynecology (treats the structure and diseases of women)
- neurosurgery (nervous system surgery)
- oncology (treatment of cancer)
- ophthalmology (eye disorder treatment)
- orthopedics (treatment-related to bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons disorders)
- otolaryngology (treatment related to the ears, nose, and throat conditions)
- pulmonology (respiratory system treatment)
- urology (urinary tract and the male reproductive system treatment)
What Are The Different Laser Types?
Below are three types of lasers most often used in medical treatment:
- Argon laser. This type of laser provides the limited penetration needed for eye surgery and superficial skin disorders. In addition, it uses light-sensitive dyes to shrink or dissolve tumors in a special procedure known as photodynamic therapy (PDT).
- Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser. This surgical tool primarily converts light energy to heat strong enough to minimize bleeding while cutting through or vaporizing tissue.
- Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. This type of laser can penetrate tissue more deeply than other lasers. In fact, the Nd: YAG laser enables blood to quickly clot, which allows surgeons to see and touch body parts that could only be reached through open (invasive) surgery.
What Are Preparations Needed Before A Laser Surgery?
Since laser surgery is used to treat many diverse conditions, the patient should ask the physician for detailed instructions about preparing for a specific procedure. That said, diet, activities, and medications may not have to be limited before surgery. At the same time, some procedures may require a physical examination, a medical history, and consultation or conversation with the patient, so it:
- clarifies what the expectations of the patient for the outcome of the procedure are;
- allows the doctor to evaluate the general health and current medical status of the patient;
- Provides the doctor with information on how the patient has responded to other illnesses, hospital stays, and diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
Is Laser Surgery Painful?
Since lasers are more precise as they penetrate tissue by adjusting the intensity of the light, pain management can now be addressed. However, a few different side effects can appear after laser hair removal. Most side effects are minor and temporary; anyone experiencing lasting side effects should consult their dermatologist.
- Redness and irritation. The body may react to laser surgery, and some may experience redness and irritation in the affected areas. In this situation, the skin may tingle or feel tender and swell slightly, which is usually short-lived. In fact, the affected area may look similar to skin that has just been waxed or plucked, but some dermatologists use a topical anesthetic to reduce how much a person’s skin reacts to the process.
- Crusting. Skin crusting may be experienced by some people in the affected area, which can be inconvenient, but it is typically a minor issue. Sometimes, crusting can lead to scarring or scabbing. However, by using a moisturizer and by taking care of the treated area after laser removal, the patient may prevent any lasting issues from this treatment.
- Skin color changes. Changes in skin color for some people receiving laser therapy may occur but are only minor. When this happens, the skin may get slightly darker or lighter following laser hair removal. These changes tend to fade over time, and the skin returns to normal.
- Eye injury. For the hair removal procedure that involves using powerful lasers, this means there is a risk of potentially serious eye injury, primarily when a practitioner works on a person’s face. However, it’s a must for both the person receiving the treatment and the practitioner to use or wear protective eye equipment to help prevent injury while the procedure is carried out.
What Happens After Laser Surgery?
After laser surgeries, the recovery is similar to that of typical surgery, while some don’t have downtime. Some patients may need to rest for the first few days after the operation and take OTC (over-the-counter) pain medication until the discomfort and swelling have gone down. Also, recovery after laser therapy varies based on the type of therapy received and how much of the body was affected by the therapy.
In case of recovery, be sure to do the following for the first couple of weeks after the treatment:
- Avoid picking any scabs.
- Apply ointments, such as petroleum jelly.
- Clean the area regularly with water.
- Use OTC (over-the-counter medications) for pain, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Use ice packs.
The Bottom Line
Since lasers can be used to perform almost any surgical procedure, it is now easier to manage the pain as they are more precise in penetrating tissue by adjusting the intensity of the light. Scinature Aesthetics offers the innovative and patented Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Therapy Laser, developed to produce an efficient and simultaneous effect on pain, edema, and inflammation, exceeding the limits of traditional LLLT (low power) and concerns of HP (high power) laser therapy. Ultimately, MLS Laser causes the muscles, ligaments, and tendons to repair themselves up to 30% faster, relieving pain and getting you back to a pain-free life safely and quickly.
