Laser surgery - skin - Overview

Alternative Names

Surgery using a laser

Definition of Laser surgery - skin:

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:

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.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Laser surgery can be used to:

Close small blood vessels to reduce blood loss
Remove warts, moles, sunspots, and tattoos
Reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles, scars, and other skin blemishes
Remove dilated blood vessels from the face
Remove hair
Remove precancerous lesions (actinic keratoses)

Laser therapy

Lasik eye surgery - series

Reviewed last on: 10/30/2010
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.

References

Tung R, Vidimos A. Nonmelanoma skin cancer. In: Carey WD. Cleveland Clinic: Current Clinical Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010.

Laser surgery and cosmetic dentistry. In: James W, Berger T, Elston D, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2005:chap 38.

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