Laser removal of neoplasms is a very common and effective procedure that helps remove unwanted growths. This is a relatively new method, which appeared in the medical arsenal not so long ago, but has already managed to prove its advantage over other removal methods. The precursors to laser destruction were removal by liquid nitrogen, electricity, or a scalpel. All of this could cause considerable discomfort to the patient, whereas laser removal shows good results with a painless procedure.
Why delete
Papillomas, which are growths of various shapes and sizes, are usually benign neoplasms. They are located on the user's mucous membranes or on their skin. The main reason for its appearance is the action of the human papillomavirus, in most cases of sexual transmission.
Removing these accumulations performs several tasks at the same time:
- Aesthetic correction.A patient with growths may feel uncomfortable if others pay too much attention to him. Because of this, a person can feel insecure and uncomfortable, even if growth does not pose a danger to them.
- Injury prevention.If the growth is in a traumatic place where the patient constantly touches it, this can lead to separation of the protruding part. Also, when trying to cover the papilloma with clothing, there may be a problem such as rubbing the affected area. This is fraught with lesions on the papilloma and possible subsequent infection. The damage can lead to the penetration of microbes, which can lead to inflammation of the wound. If this happens, the damaged area should be treated with peroxide and immediately go to the clinic to remove the remaining part of the papilloma.
- Reduce the risk of cancer.Although the growths are benign in nature, there is such a variety of manifestations as warts. They are usually located in intimate places and pose a great danger in terms of the development of cancer. To prevent the disease, all warts must be removed.
Do not remove the accumulation yourself. Any attempt to tie a papilloma with a thread, comb it, apply some kind of chemical agent to it can worsen its condition.
Benefits of the procedure
Laser destruction has several advantages over other removal methods.These include:
- Guaranteed result.Thanks to the effect of the laser, the growth is completely eliminated, leaving nothing even in the deep subcutaneous layers. The device can penetrate deep enough to clear all traces of the presence of a neoplasm.
- Painless.Exposure to the laser causes the patient minimal pain. If you add preliminary anesthesia with local anesthetics to the procedure, there is no pain at all.
- Procedure speed. Laser papilloma removal requires 2 to 5 minutes per item.
- Non-invasive.The laser beam is in a strictly limited area and does not go further. In this case, more than one part of the laser does not touch the procedure site. This is very important, as this method helps to minimize the risk of infection and offers a high guarantee of sterility.
- No postoperative scars.If the job is successful, there should be no traces of laser action at the exposure site. This is due to the fact that the affected tissue evaporates completely and then new, intact skin takes its place.
- Way to eliminate without blood.The laser beam heats the capillaries that supply blood, quickly sealing their walls. As a result, the bleeding stops and does not resume after surgery.
- Suitable for different parts of the body.Not all removal methods can be used on all parts of the body. The intimate places, eyelids, etc. they are considered especially sensitive. Laser destruction does a good job of treating growths in these areas thanks to the precision of the laser beam.
All of these factors make laser removal one of the most popular procedures for removing growths.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for this procedure is not as long as for other destruction methods.Among the prohibitions of laser removal:
- diabetes mellitus;
- oncology;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- epilepsy;
- diseases associated with problems of the endocrine system;
- poor blood clotting;
- HIV or AIDS;
- acute inflammatory diseases.
In addition, patients who have recently had influenza or acute respiratory infections should also postpone the procedure for some time.
Description of the procedure
Before beginning any procedure to remove growths, the doctor will disinfect the area to be operated on. In some cases, pain reliever with local anesthetic is used. Usually an ointment or spray is used for this. After applying the anesthetic drug, 2-3 minutes pass and the elimination process begins.
The laser beam is aimed at the affected area and, as it were, cauterizes the unwanted growth. At this time, the contents of the cells evaporate under the influence of the laser, removing each layer of the affected tissue. This happens not only in easily accessible places in open spaces. The procedure for removing papilloma, for example, on the eyelid, is the same. The only nuance in this area is that a special cooling method is used for the patient to avoid pain and burns at this sensitive point.
Neoplasms in intimate places are removed according to the same principle. But here the doctor usually uses an injection of anesthetic as the anesthetic, injecting the growth from different sides.
The moment of insertion of the needle can be somewhat painful, but after a couple of minutes the sensitivity in the area of influence disappears completely and subsequent manipulations are completely painless.
The affected area turns into a small bloodless wound. At the time of destruction, it is disinfected due to the work of the laser. After removing the buildup, the doctor treats the affected area with potassium permanganate.
After the procedure, the patient may have slight redness, itching, or mild pain at the site of the papilloma removal.
This reaction is considered normal, since, despite the non-invasiveness of the procedure, there was interference with the integrity of the skin during the operation.All discomfort should completely disappear within 2-4 days after the procedure.
Later a dry scab appears on the wound. Underneath is a layer of already healthy skin, so its protective layer cannot be peeled off until it falls off on its own. Otherwise, a scar may remain on the skin and the recovery process itself may take longer.
Consequences
Complications after laser destruction are rare. As a general rule, their presence is associated with diseases that the patient already has, which she did not cure before the procedure. So, for example, if the patient had inflammation of the skin, it can contribute to the appearance of pigmentation. If the skin itself is very sensitive, slight redness associated with a burn may occur. With a high allergic reaction, edema may occur at the site of exposure.
To exclude all undesirable consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor before carrying out laser destruction.
Post-Procedure Care
After removing accumulation, the patient must adhere to the following rules:
- do not allow water to enter the wound for 2-3 days;
- refrain from visiting saunas, baths and swimming pools;
- do not rub the damaged area with a towel;
- do not use adhesive plaster on the wound;
- do not treat the papilloma removal site with scrubs, lotions containing alcohol;
- avoid exposure to UV rays.
Several times a day, an antiseptic treatment of the wound is necessary. This should be done until the time the scab is separated. This treatment should prevent infection and help speed up the time to complete healing.To treat the damaged area, you can take iodine or potassium permanganate solution.
After removal, the site can be treated with anti-inflammatory ointments.
Its action is aimed at accelerating tissue regeneration, relieving inflammation and edema. Before choosing a specific remedy, it is best to consult a doctor.
Which method is better?
Laser removal is not the only way to deal with unwanted growth. There are also other ways, among which are:
Cryodestruction.
Based on the removal of papillomas with liquid nitrogen. Due to exposure to low temperatures, the accumulation begins to collapse and eventually disappears completely. The method is effective, but it has several disadvantages. Among them is the impossibility of complete control over the depth of action of nitrogen. The substance can pass very deeply, touching a healthy area or, conversely, affect only superficially, without affecting all the localization layers of the accumulation.
Also, this method is characterized by:
- the possibility of postoperative scars;
- painful sensations;
- inability to guarantee result after first procedure.
Therefore, laser destruction shows higher efficiency compared to cryodestruction. Laser removal is less painful and more likely to ensure the desired result.
Elimination of radio waves.
This method of destruction is carried out using a special device that acts on the papilloma through radio waves. This promotes cleavage of the buildup due to the tip effect of the radio knife. The precision of the procedure is very high, so the surrounding tissues are not affected. However, the risk of burns or infections is extremely low.
This method is suitable for removing small benign lesions. It is very efficient, which makes it as popular as laser destruction. Both methods are considered modern approaches to removing papillomas and are used equally in medicine.
Electrocoagulation.
This method is based on the action of a high-frequency electrical current that acts on the papilloma directly at the site of the injury. Electrocoagulation is now considered a common but outdated method. This method allows you to prevent bleeding after removing the papilloma by burning the vessels.
However, when using high-frequency current, patients experience pain that appears even after anesthesia. This causes some patients to abandon electrocautery and opt for laser removal as a more advanced and painless method.
Estimated cost
The price range depends not only on the region and clinic where the removal takes place, but also on the number, size and location of the removed growths.
In many clinics there is a discount for removing new growths in bulk: the more a patient has, the cheaper it will be to remove a growth.
Getting rid of a growth in the genital area can be significantly more expensive than in other parts of the body. Also, not all clinics provide this service due to the complexity of such manipulation.