Finding a physician who is experienced in the field of laser surgery is important. Lasers are important tools in helping persons undergo successful treatments for multiple procedures and cosmetic laser surgery encompasses procedures from tattoo removal to treatment for spider veins. Physicians aren't limited to use of one laser. Different laser are used for different types of surgeries, and it is best to research and inquire as to which surgeon prefers and has experience with what laser, and what is best for a particular procedure.
Carbon Dioxide lasers remove skin growths, in particular warts and moles. Taking into consideration that the human body is made up of mostly water, Carbon dioxide lasers work by having their light (not visible to the human eye) absorbed by the water that occurs naturally in the body. When the beam of light is focused, it cuts into the tissue and, at the same time, seals the blood vessels it is simultaneously cutting. When defocused, it vaporizes. These characteristics make it the treatment of choice for removing warts and many types of skin growths.
The active medium in the yellow pulsed-dye laser is a type of dye. This type of laser treatment involves a beam that is absorbed by the hemoglobin of the blood. Due to its action with hemoglobin, this laser beam destroys any abnormal blood vessels present, and is there fore used in the treatment of skin problems such as port wine stains (nevus flammeus. A condition caused by enlarged capillaries of the skin). Port wine stains are usually found on young children and usually affect the face but can be found elsewhere on the body.
Argon lasers employ a blue-green beam that is absorbed heavily by the color red. This laser is used for the treatment of spidery veins, blisters of blood, some vascular tumors and birthmarks known as strawberry birthmarks
The Q-switched ruby is a pigment laser employing a red beam of light. This laser is used where pigment is located, either in the form of naturally occurring excess pigmentation in the skin or in the form of tattoos. The YAG laser has been shown to be effective in the surgery of various types of hemangiomas, which are skin growths with heavy concentrations of blood vessels. It delivers highly-focused energy and-unlike other lasers-its tip can be placed directly on the skin, mimicking a scalpel.
