Warts are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign that the body is infected with the papillomavirus and requires treatment. There are several ways to remove neoplasms, but the most popular is laser papilloma removal. This method is considered one of the safest, it allows you to quickly remove the papilloma, and after removal complications almost never occur. But the laser is not a panacea and it is not suitable for everyone. Let's consider how laser therapy is carried out, and learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the process.
What is laser therapy?
Laser therapy involves exposing a neoplasm to a beam of light with a specific wavelength. When removing papillomas, the following occurs:
- moisture evaporates from the cells of the neoplasm;
- cell structure begins to deteriorate.
The light beam, which destroys the wart, hardly damages the epidermis. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
The advantages of the technique
Specialists, choosing a method of removing papilloma, prefer a laser. Let's consider the main advantages of laser surgery:
- Low injury rate. The depth of the beam is selected individually, and during exposure only the wart is removed without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- BloodlessThe light beam causes coagulation (adhesion of the walls) of the vessels supplying the neoplasm, so there is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. Due to the fact that the vessels "stick together, " the probability of infection in the resulting wound is minimal.
- The ability to remove papilloma anywhere on the human body.
- Lack of postoperative scars. Subject to medical recommendations for skin care, no traces remain at the site of laser exposure. This makes it possible to get rid of papillomas on the neck, face, and other exposed parts of the body without the risk of unsightly scars.
- Short rehabilitation period. The trace of the intervention heals in a week.
- The ability to remove neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter with laser therapy.
- Relative painless. During the action of the light beam, most patients feel only heat, pain is noticeable only in people with increased sensitivity. To eliminate pain or discomfort, removal is done under local anesthesia.
- Security. It is allowed to remove papillomas even in childhood.
Despite the fact that laser removal has advantages over other methods and is carried out in many beauty salons, it is necessary to consult a doctor before removing the formation.
Consultation is necessary to distinguish papillomas from other neoplasms and to identify possible contraindications.
Disadvantages and possible contraindications.
Despite the safety, laser removal of wart growths has several disadvantages:
- Scar formationThis complication develops in people with a low capacity for tissue regeneration. Scars at the site of a removed wart are rare.
- Accession from a secondary infection. Improper wound care after laser removal leads to infection of the wound surface, which is accompanied by edema or suppuration.
- Allergy. There are no allergic manifestations to the laser, but a reaction to anesthesia may develop. The manifestations can be different: from local hyperemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. For neoplasms caused by the HPV virus, laser removal is done for a fee and the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of formations.
- Inability to perform a cytological study. With laser exposure, the cells of the wart formation are completely destroyed, and if tissue degeneration is suspected, it is necessary to study the excised papilloma.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of removal, there are absolute contraindications:
- endocrine disturbances (thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, etc. );
- infectious and inflammatory processes of the skin at the site of growth localization;
- acute illnesses or exacerbation of chronic illnesses;
- recent prolonged exposure to the sun or a visit to the solarium (it should be 2 weeks from the time you tan);
- oncological processes;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient, determining possible complications after removal of the papilloma and the presence of contraindications. Consultation with a doctor helps reduce the risk of complications.
What papillomas can be removed with a laser?
Is it dangerous to remove papillomas with laser? Only the doctor will respond after examining the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed by laser destruction.
Laser therapy is indicated for the following types of wart formations:
- vulgar;
- condylomas;
- thorns
- flat;
- filiform
- on a thin leg.
A contraindication to the use of laser therapy is the suspicion that pathological degeneration of the tissues has occurred and a cytological examination is necessary. In this case, the extraction is carried out in a different way, which allows the biomaterial to be preserved for analysis.
Types of machines
There are several types of equipment to remove papillomas:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Rejuvenation Laser). It is considered one of the safest, equipped with a beam adjustment function, which allows you to accurately calculate the depth of penetration into the tissue.
- Sciton embedded in the laser platform. The new technology allows the deep layers of the epidermis to be well heated, eliminating skin cells altered by the papilloma virus. In addition to removing warts, the device is used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It has a conservative effect on the epidermis and is used not only to remove warty growths, but also to rejuvenate the skin (while the process of "removing" the top layer of keratinized epithelium occurs).
Doctors qualitatively remove papillomas with any of the devices described, using lasers as an alternative to the surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is considered one of the least traumatic ways to remove warts. But, despite the safety of the procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor before performing it to reduce the risk of side effects and identify contraindications.
The type of equipment purchased depends on the profile of the clinic (additional provision of cosmetic services) and the financial capabilities of the institution (devices differ in cost).
Preparing for the procedure
Laser papilloma removal does not require specialized training. But before performing the procedure, it is recommended:
- Determine the strain of HPV. Some of the papilloma viruses are oncogenically dangerous.
- Show a warty formation to a dermatologist. This is important when the color or shape of the papilloma changes. If an oncological process is suspected, a cytological examination is necessary, which cannot be performed after laser removal.
On the day of the procedure, you should clean the wart site and do not drink alcohol.
How is laser removal performed?
Laser destruction can be conditionally divided into several stages:
- antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- injection of a local anesthetic (if necessary);
- layer by layer laser evaporation of the papilloma.
Skin neoplasms are eliminated in a short period of time (several seconds to several minutes) and, generally, no further treatment is required.
Multiple treatments may be needed only if the tumor is large. In this case, to reduce the trauma to the epithelium, layer-by-layer wart removal is carried out over several days.
How to treat wounds after papilloma removal.
To avoid complications after papilloma removal, doctors give the following recommendations:
- What to process. It is necessary to use ointments or gels to heal wounds and clean the postoperative wound with a weak solution of manganese or calendula tincture. With low cell regeneration, it is necessary to consult a dermatologist on how to treat the postoperative surface to avoid scarring.
- What not to do after the procedure. It is strictly forbidden to peel off the crust formed at the extraction site or injure the wound. The scab will fall off on its own after the regeneration process is complete, and to avoid injury when rubbing with clothing, it is recommended to glue the place where the wart was removed with a bactericidal plaster. But it is not necessary to constantly walk in the cast: the wound needs access to air for complete healing.
After laser papilloma removal, care is easy: you just need not to damage the wound surface, and regularly treat it with healing agents. At the risk of complications associated with scar formation, the doctor provides special recommendations on how to care for the wound after the procedure.
Rehabilitation period
Despite the fact that the recovery period after laser destruction is short, it is important to follow all the recommendations given by the doctor after laser papilloma removal.
As a general rule, healing of the laser-treated skin surface occurs one week after the procedure. To prevent the appearance of scars and scars, it is necessary to use the recommended drugs and not try to peel off the formed scab.
In most patients, the scabs disappear within 7 to 10 days and, with the destruction of large warty formations, it may take longer. Once the scab has fallen off, a soft pink epidermis is seen at the extraction site, gradually taking on a normal color.
Is it painful to remove a papilloma with a laser?
Most patients fear pain, and confidence in the absence of pain is important for psychological comfort. The following can be said about laser therapy:
- only heat is felt at the site of laser action;
- Suspicious patients or people with skin hypersensitivity undergo laser removal under local anesthesia.
The removal time is short (maximum, a few minutes) and only slight discomfort is felt at the site of the removed wart, which disappears in the first days after destruction.
How much does the service cost in the clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on the following:
- the reputation of the clinic;
- where on the body are warts (a "special approach" is needed for the face and genitals);
- size, as well as other factors.