Laser therapy - vascular lesions
What is laser therapy?
Who is a good candidate?
Risks
Recovery
What is laser therapy?
At Penn, plastic surgeons are using state-of-the-art
lasers to perform a variety of operations, including
reconstructive procedures to restore appearance
and function.
Blood vessel lasers and carbon dioxide (CO2)
lasers are commonly used in reconstructive procedures.
Blood vessel lasers can treat vascular lesions,
or red blemishes on the skin, by penetrating
deep into the tissue to lighten the area. The
laser light is absorbed by the blood, caus ing
the vessels to burst. The treatment results
in temporary bruising, but gives excellent long
term results.
Doctors have been using lasers to treat port
wine stains and hemangiomas for many years.
More recently lasers have also been used to
treat adult spider veins and facial broken blood
vessels (telangiectasias).
Vascular lesions that appear as swollen, bluish
bumps on cheeks or lips can also be treated
with blood vessel lasers. When these lesions
interfere with speech, their removal is considered
reconstructive rather than a cosmetic procedure.
CO2 lasers remove the top layers of skin. More
often used in cosmetic
procedures, these lasers can also remove
lymphatic bubbles (small water-filled blisters).
The line between cosmetic and reconstructive
procedures can be thin. Although insurance providers
typically cover reconstructive operations many
vascular conditions are considered to be cosmetic
in nature. Work with your doctor’s office
to determine if your procedure qualifies.
Who is a good candidate?
If you think you need reconstructive laser therapy,
talk with a Penn plastic surgeon. It is important
to know that for the maximum results, you may
require several procedures. Though modern medicine
can dramatically improve a person’s condition,
results are not always uniform. Many patients
are also surprised to learn that many laser
procedures require some recovery time.
Risks
Surgery has risks, but you can help prevent
complications by carefully following your physician's
instructions both before and after surgery.
Talk with your plastic surgeon to be sure you
understand the potential risks and complications.
If you don't understand something, ask!
Like cosmetic laser skin resurfacing, laser
therapy has a few specific risks, including:
- burns or other injuries from the laser's
heat
- scars
- skin pigmentation changes
- When considering any type of laser surgery,
it is important to choose a plastic surgeon
who understands which lasers are most effective
for treating specific conditions.
Recovery
Recovery times vary with different lasers. Though
your doctor will tell you specifically what
to expect, it can take several weeks or even
months for the skin redness to diminish. Your
doctor may recommend special skin care prior
to and following laser surgery.
Camouflage
make-up can be used to conceal bruises or
redness while the area heals.
| 
