Laser therapy has a lot of advantages - but it's still no silver bullet
- General
- What exactly is a laser?
- What are the side effects?
- You are not a candidate for laser treatment
General
The use of lasers has increased dramatically during the last years. Given the fact that all types of lasers are an essential part of our daily business, we provide you with a little information about the laser and his usage in plastic surgery:
What exactly is a laser?
The word LASER is an acronym for "Light Amplification Stimulated Emission Radiation" which is a very strong beam of light.
Dermatology makes use of lasers to treat different skin ailments. It is possible e.g. to remove scars with a laser. Irregularities of pigment can be corrected with the help of lasers. Excessive hair growth can be treated and tattoos can be removed.
Treatments with laser are especially skin friendly. Laser therapy is overrated by the media: it is no miracle cure! Typical of almost every laser therapy is that the operation is rather short, that they can be performed without anaesthesia and without 'bloodshed'. It is a regrettable misconception that laser treatment is always pain free.
Furthermore lasers are used to fight skin laxity. Fine lines, creases and wrinkles are removed by lasers. With a laser treatment the outer layers of the skin are tightened and the overall appearance of your skin will be considerably smoother. We use lasers with treatments of your face, neck, arms, legs and belly.
Lasers can also be used to repair sun damaged skin. Acne, warts and special forms of scarring such as keloids (irregularly shaped scars that progressively enlarge), are treated with lasers, too.
What are the side effects?
Redness and swellings
Your skin shows a special sensitivity immediately after treatment. There may be some minor discolouration and light swellings; however, these side effects will disappear within a short period of time. If you cool your skin after treatment those side effects can be limited to a minimum.
Crusts
There may be crusts after laser treatment. Never pick the crust off – allow it to fall off in its own time - otherwise you risk scarring! Under no circumstances scratch them off. Try to keep your skin dry as long as possible because it could get infected (e.g. when having a bath). Please abandon creams of all sorts for the time of your recovery since they promote an early breaking off of the crusts.
The right behaviour is crucial to avoid scarring even after the crust has fallen off. It is not possible to predict the sensitivity of your skin and the reaction of your pigment cells. After six weeks your recovery is completed. Please note: the risk of changes in your pigment accompanies every scar – it's not unique to laser therapy.
Scars
Every (minor) operation comes along with the risk of scarring. The risk of getting scarred from a laser treatment however is very small. Patients that are susceptible to keloids should refrain from undergoing laser therapy.
Sun protection
In order to prevent pigmented moles or your skin becoming blotchy it is very important that you avoid exposing your skin to sunlight. You should use a sun block / sun block make up anyway (for six weeks after the treatment). We perform laser therapy only when your skin is pale and complexionless and not tanned in order to avoid hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin).
Because of that we advise you not to undergo laser therapy immediately before or after your holidays, or during the summer months. The cold time of year is more suitable for treatment. Please do not use self-tanning lotion during your therapy.
You are not a candidate for laser treatment
If you have brown pigmented moles, that cannot be clearly identified as non-malignant skin change (such as age spots or freckles) laser therapy is not the right treatment for you (there are other options, though). Unfortunately we cannot treat hyperpigmentation – bright spots on a dark skin – with a laser neither.
How much does a laser treatment cost?
© Dr. Darius Alamouti, MD — www.dariusalamouti.de
