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Laser Surgery
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Laser Skin Surgery
Lasers were first developed in 1964 for industrial uses, such as precise cutting of metals and plastics. For the next 20 years all laser medical treatments were performed using industrial lasers, which had been adapted for medical use. These lasers emitted continuous beams of light and were non-specific in their effects on tissue. With the development of lasers that produce short individual pulses of light in the early 1980s, laser surgery became much more precise and effective.
Since then, there have been major advances in the ability to treat a variety of skin disorders and cosmetic problems. The first laser developed to produce selective light-induced injury was the pulsed dye laser. This device is used to treat a variety of blood vessel abnormalities; in particular, port wine stains. Before the advent of this laser, these unsightly birthmarks responded poorly to treatment and available therapies often caused permanent facial scarring. The pulsed dye laser was approved by the FDA in 1988 and has since revolutionized the treatment of this disorder. Port wine stains can now be treated in newborns, which leads to clearance of the birthmark at a very young age before it affects the child's psychological development. This laser has also been used very effectively to treat a variety of other disorders of blood vessels, including broken blood vessels on the face, hemangiomas, different types of scars, and even warts.
The use of pulsed laser technology to treat pigmented disorders (brown discoloration of the skin) was the second major development. The lasers were refined to emit wavelengths of light that are better absorbed by colored pigments in the skin, making it possible to treat a variety of superficial and deeper pigmented lesions. A number of these lasers are now available and approved for the treatment of aging spots, sun spots (lentigines), brown birthmarks, and tattoos. Lasers are effective for treatment of decorative, cosmetic and traumatic tattoos. Many of these can be totally cleared, often in just one almost painless treatment. Lasers have recently been developed for hair removal. By selectively damaging the hair bulb regrowth is dramatically and permanently reduced after just a few treatments. Side effects, such as increased skin color, are uncommon and always temporary.
The most recent development, and one which has generated tremendous interest, is non-ablative skin rejuvenation systems in conjunction with skin cooling. Rejuvenation of photodamaged, aging skin as well as the treatment of many types of facial scars has traditionally involved ablation of the skin surface. More recently lasers and light sources have been utilized without ablative injury allowing for stimulation of dermal collagen with subsequent improvement of skin tone, texture, fine lines and scars. Compared to chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing is more precise, results are more impressive and side effects are no more frequent.
The future of skin laser surgery is very bright.
Surgical report samples are available - Here are a few for review:
Do It Yourself C-section
Presurgery Heart Studies
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