One of the most exciting and innovative advancements in the fields of medicine and surgery in the past few years has been the development of laser technology. The principles of the laser were initially presented by Albert Einstein in 1917 in his publication "The Quantum Theory of Radiation." Using Einstein's concepts, other scientists began to develop lasers for many purposes.

Port Wine Stain
Before Laser Surgery 		Port Wine Stain
After Laser Surgery


What is a Laser?

The word laser is an acronym which stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It means light produced in a certain way.

Lasers are used in many ways. Laser discs reproduce high quality music In grocery stores: lasers are used to read the codes on purchases. Lasers are used in some defense weapons and to measure distances between planets. A surgical laser is an intense beam of light capable of removing unwanted tissue from the body. (Fig. A) It can be delivered through a hand-held device, a microscope or an endoscope which is a long, thin flexible tube that allows the physician to see inside the body.

Fig. A


The Laser as a Surgical Tool

There are many different types of lasers used in medicine and surgery. The rapid growth in technology today is producing better laser equipment and treatments for a greater variety of problems. The most popular types of lasers used in cosmetic surgery include the carbon dioxide, neodymium:YAG, pulsed dye and argon lasers.

Argon Laser

The argon laser is used in the treatment of some types of port wine stains, vascular tumors, certain forms of skin cancer, and other lesions. It is also used to treat diseases of the eye such as glaucoma and eye problems related to diabetes. The energy from this laser passes through nonpigmented tissue and fluid and is absorbed by the blood or pigment. The vascular or pigmented tissue is then coagulated or vaporized.

Carbon Dioxide Laser

The carbon dioxide (CO 2) laser is a highly versatile laser system in medicine today. It is used in the treatment of infected wounds, scar tissue, warts, and other skin disorders. Unlike the other lasers, this laser's energy is absorbed by fluid which is contained in all human tissue.

A more recent development is the ultra pulse carbon dioxide laser whose unique technology produces a beam which markedly reduces the risk of injury such as burns to the skin. This laser has been used very successfully for laser skin resurfacing, a process which improves facial wrinkles, aging signs, and acne scars in men and women.

Neodymium: YAG Laser

The neodymium:YAG laser, although similar to the argon laser in that it is also absorbed by pigment, penetrates deeper into the tissue. One version, the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is used in the treatment of certain skin lesions such as tattoo removal and removal of pigmented lesions.

Pulsed dye laser

Another laser is the pulsed dye laser which is used to treat various cancers as well as port wine stains and other vascular lesions. It is particularly effective because its beam can destroy abnormal tissue without causing unnecessary injury to the healthy tissue surrounding it. This makes it well suited for use with young children who may experience psychological trauma if surgery is delayed until adolescence.

Other lasers

There are several other lasers which have been developed in recent years. Several types have been developed to treat spider veins of the legs, often in conjunction with sclerosing agents which are injected into the larger vessels. Other lasers have been developed for the improvement of stretch marks and removal of unwanted hair. The physician will determine which laser to use based upon the type of pigmented or vascular lesion to be treated.

The Benefits of Laser Surgery

More Precision

In conventional surgery, it is often necessary to remove healthy tissue along with diseased tissue. The laser, however, is capable of isolating and removing targeted cells without affecting the healthy cells surrounding them.

Reduces Risk of Infection

The risk of infection is reduced with laser surgery because only the beam of light comes in contact with the tissue. In addition, bacteria and viruses are vaporized along with body cells.

Less Bleeding, Swelling, Pain

Because the heating effect of the lasers' energy cauterizes or seals small blood vessels, there is less bleeding and swelling. There is less pain connected with the surgery because the beam seals nerve endings.

Need for General Anesthesia Lessened

The use of laser surgery has significantly reduced the need for general anesthesia, thus reducing the risk of complications connected with it. In many cases, long hospital stays are shortened and sometimes reduced to outpatient procedures.



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