Laser surgery - skin

Alternative Names: Surgery using a laser

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 of Procedure

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, and 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 and the color of the tissue being treated.

Risks of Laser surgery - skin

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.

Laser therapy	Lasik eye surgery - series

Review Date: 10/30/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

_{Do not use this information for medical emergencies - Call 911. This information should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should always be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other websites do not constitute endorsements and are provided for information only. Any duplication or distribution of this information is strictly prohibited.
Copyright 2011 A.D.A.M., Inc.}