Cosmetic laser surgery uses instruments which focus or reflect a laser beam onto the skin. There is little or no cutting, which means healing time is shortened, and scars are less noticeable. Laser surgery is faster, but it should only be done by those who are trained.
Types of Surgery
Laser surgery can be used to perform many procedures. These include removal of birthmarks or lesions, skin peeling procedures, and preparation of the scalp for hair transplants.
One type of birthmark that laser surgery is particularly successful on is the port-wine stain birthmark. Because this birthmark is caused by the presence of abnormal blood vessels, and because laser shrinks these vessels, the birthmark becomes lighter.
Laser surgery can also be used to shrink and reduce the visibility of spider veins. These are often found on the legs, but sometimes appear on the face, also. Using a laser allows the surgeon to work with a smaller area.
Laser surgery is also part of a hair transplant procedure. The laser is used to prepare the scalp for the transplanted hair by making the tiny incisions needed to hold the transplanted hair. Using a laser lessens bleeding and makes the incisions less noticeable while the transplant is healing.
How Laser Surgery Works
Skin imperfections such as wrinkles and scars are lower than the skin that surrounds them. This in turn causes light to form shadows when it strikes them, making them more visible. Laser surgery reduces or removes surrounding skin, making it level with the imperfection. Without the difference in levels, there can be no shadow; therefore, the skin's appearance is improved. Laser surgery also works by stimulating the production of collagen, which fills in wrinkles, making them less noticeable.
What to expect
Most laser surgery is done on an outpatient basis, which means you go home the same day. Depending on the type of laser surgery you have, you will either have general anesthesia, where you are completely asleep during the procedure, or local anesthesia, where the area being worked on is numbed for the procedure.
If you have general anesthesia, you will need someone to drive you home after the procedure. If you have local anesthesia, and it does not affect your vision or sensation in your hands or feet, you may be able to drive yourself home, but you still might wish to have someone accompany you.
After your laser surgery, you may feel pain, which may require prescription pain medication for a few days. In addition, swelling will be present and can last anywhere for a few days to a few weeks.
Laser surgery sites will be covered for a few days. For a while after the dressings have been removed, there will be oozing from the wound.
Healing occurs within a few days or a few weeks, depending on the type of surgery and the type of laser instrument used. Some types of laser instruments allow for faster healing. The redness resulting from laser surgery will remain for approximately one week to four months, gradually improving as time passes.
Your laser surgery practitioner will tell you when you can begin using skin care products and wearing make-up. Until then, you will have to decide if you are ready to be seen in public. If you do go out, you must wear sun block with at least 15 SPF.
Considerations
Laser surgery does work; however, it may take several treatments to achieve the desired results. Also, laser surgery simply improves the look of scars; it does not eliminate them. And, because you have had surgery, there is a recovery period, and it may be a slightly difficult and/or lengthy one. You should consider this, especially when determining when to schedule the surgery.
Warnings
There can be side effects from both the anesthesia and the surgery.
Side effects from anesthesia can include nausea and/or vomiting after surgery. If you had general anesthesia and needed a breathing tube during surgery, you may have a sore throat for a few days.
You may have a headache, or body aches and pains. The headache can come from either tension or the anesthesia itself; the body aches can come from being in one position for a lengthy period of time, or from the surgery itself.
More serious side effects can include abnormal bleeding, both during and after surgery, respiratory or heart complications during surgery and, very rarely, death.
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