Removing neoplasms with a laser is a very common and effective procedure that helps get rid of unwanted growths. This is a relatively new method that appeared in the medical arsenal not so long ago, but has already managed to prove its advantage over other methods of removal. The precursors to laser destruction were removal using liquid nitrogen, electricity or a scalpel. All of this can cause significant discomfort to the patient, while laser removal shows high results with painless intervention.
Why remove
Papillomas, which are growths of various shapes and sizes, are usually benign tumors. They are located on the wearer's mucous membranes or his skin. The main reason for their appearance is the effect of the human papillomavirus, in most cases sexually transmitted.
Removing these builds performs several tasks at once:
- Aesthetic correction.A patient with growth can be uncomfortable with excessive attention to them from others. Because of this, a person may feel insecure and uncomfortable even though the growth does not pose a danger to him.
- Injury prevention.If the growth is a traumatic place where the patient is constantly touching it, this may lead to separation of the protruding part. Additionally, when trying to cover papilloma with clothing, there may be such a problem as rubbing the affected area. This is fraught with damage to the papilloma and possible subsequent infection. The damage can lead to the penetration of microbes, which can cause inflammation in 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.
- Reducing the risk of cancer.Despite the fact that growths are benign, there is such a diversity of their manifestation as warts. They are usually located in intimate places and pose a great danger in terms of cancer development. To prevent the disease, all warts must be removed.
Do not remove the accumulation alone. Any attempt to bind a papilloma with a thread, comb, apply some kind of chemical agent on it can aggravate its condition.
Benefits of the procedure
Laser destruction has several advantages over other methods of removal.These include:
- Guaranteed result.Thanks to the action of the laser, the excrement is completely removed, leaving nothing, even in the deep subcutaneous layers. The device is able to penetrate deep enough to clear all traces of the presence of a neoplasm.
- Pain relief.The exposure to the laser gives the patient minimal pain. If you add the procedure preliminary anesthesia with local anesthesia, there is no pain at all.
- Procedure Speed . Removal of papillomas with a laser requires 2 to 5 minutes per. Element.
- Non-invasiveness.The laser beam is in a strictly restricted area and does not extend beyond it. In this case, more than one part of the laser does not touch the place of the procedure. This is very important as this method helps minimize the risk of infection and provides a high guarantee of sterility.
- No postoperative scar.If the work is performed correctly, there should be no trace of the laser action at the site of exposure. This is because the affected tissue has completely evaporated and then new, intact skin takes its place.
- Bloodless way to delete.The laser beam heats the capillaries that supply blood and quickly seals their walls. As a result, the bleeding stops and does not resume after surgery.
- Suitable for different body parts.Not all removal methods can be used on all parts of the body. Intimate places, eyelids, etc. Considered particularly sensitive. Laser destruction does a good job of managing growth in such areas due to the precision of the laser beam.
All of these factors make laser removal one of the most sought after procedures to get rid of growth.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for this procedure is not as long as for other methods of destruction.Among the bans on laser removal:
- diabetes mellitus;
- oncology;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases epilepsy;
- Diseases associated with endocrine system problems
- bad blood clots
- HIV or AIDS;
- acute inflammatory diseases.
In addition, patients who have recently had the flu or acute respiratory infections should also delay the procedure for some time.
Procedure Description
Before starting a growth removal procedure, your doctor will disinfect the area to be operated on. In some cases, local anesthesia is used. Typically, an ointment or spray is used for this. After applying anesthetic, 2-3 minutes pass and the removal process itself begins.
The laser beam is aimed at the affected area and as such cauterizes the unwanted growth. At this moment, the contents of the cells evaporate under the influence of the laser, removing each layer of the affected tissue. This does not only happen in easily accessible places in open spaces. The procedure for removing the 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 prevent pain and burns at this sensitive point.
Neoplasms in intimate sites are removed according to the same principle. But here the doctor usually uses an anesthetic injection as an anesthetic and injects the growth from different sides.
The very moment of needle insertion can be somewhat painful, but after a few minutes the sensitivity in the area of influence disappears completely and further manipulations are completely painless.
The affected area turns into a small wound without blood. At the time of destruction, it is disinfected due to the work of the laser. After removing the accumulation, your doctor will treat the affected area with potassium permanganate.
After the procedure, the patient may have slight redness, itching or mild soreness at the site of papilloma removal.
This reaction is considered normal as, despite the non-invasiveness of the procedure, there was an interference with the integrity of the skin.All discomfort should disappear completely 2-4 days after the procedure.
A dry crust appears later over the wound. Beneath it, there is a layer of already healthy skin so that its protective shell cannot be torn off until it falls off by itself. 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 rule, their presence is associated with diseases that the patient already has, which he did not cure before the procedure. So, for example, if the patient had inflammation of the skin, it may contribute to the appearance of pigmentation. If the skin itself is very sensitive, there may be a slight redness associated with a burn. In case of a high allergic reaction, edema may occur at the site of exposure.
To rule out any unwanted consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor before performing laser destruction.
Follow the procedure
After removal of the structure, the patient must adhere to the following rules:
- does not allow water to penetrate 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 apply adhesive to the wound;
- does not treat papilloma removal site with scrubs, lotions containing alcohol;
- Avoid exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Several times a day it is necessary to perform antiseptic treatment of the wound. This should be done until the moment the scab is removed. This treatment should prevent infection and help speed up the time for complete healing.To treat the damaged area you can take iodine or a solution of potassium permanganate.
After removal, the site can be treated with anti-inflammatory ointments.
Their action is aimed at speeding up 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 that stand out:
Cryodestruction.
Based on 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 has several disadvantages. Among them is the impossibility of complete control over the depth of action of nitrogen. The substance can pass very deep, touch a healthy area or vice versa, affect only superficially without affecting all layers of localization of the structure.
In addition, this method is characterized by:
- the possibility of postoperative scarring;
- painful sensations
- inability to guarantee the result after the first procedure.
Thus, laser destruction is more efficient than cryodestruction. Removal with a laser is less painful and more likely to guarantee the desired result.
Removing Radio Waves.
This method of destruction is performed using a special device that acts on the papilloma through radio waves. This promotes excision of the accumulation due to the point effect of the radio knife. The precision of the procedure is very high so that the adjacent tissues are not affected. However, the risk of burns or infection is extremely low.
This method is suitable for removing small, benign growths. It is very effective, which makes it just as popular as laser destruction. Both methods are considered modern approaches to papilloma removal and are used equally well in medicine.
Electrocoagulation.
This method is based on the effect of a high frequency electric current acting on the papilloma directly at the lesion site. 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, patients experience pain that occurs even after anesthesia when using high-frequency current. This causes some patients to give up 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 is performed, but also on the number, size and location of the removed growths.
In many clinics, there is a discount on tumor removal in tumors: the more a patient has, the cheaper it is to remove a growth.
Getting rid of growth in the genital area can be significantly more expensive than on other parts of the body. Moreover, not all clinics provide such a service due to the complexity of such manipulation.