Warts are not only a cosmetic defect but also a sign that the body is infected with papillomavirus and needs treatment. There are several ways to eliminate neoplasms, but the most popular is the removal of papillomas with a laser. This method is considered one of the safest, it allows you to quickly remove the papilloma, and after removal, almost never complications occur. But the laser is not a panacea and is not suitable for everyone. Let us consider how laser therapy is performed, as well as become familiar with the pros and cons of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves exposing a neoplasm to a light beam of a certain wavelength. When removing papillomas, the following happens:
- moisture evaporates from the cells of the neoplasm;
- the cell structure begins to deteriorate.
The light beam that destroys the wart hardly damages the epidermis. The operation is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.
Advantages of the technique
Specialists who choose a method of removing papilloma prefer a laser. Let us consider the main benefits of laser surgery:
- Low damage rate. The depth of the beam is selected individually, and during exposure only the wart is eliminated without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Anemia. The light beam causes coagulation (adhesion of the walls) of the vessels supplying the neoplasm so that there is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. Due to the fact that the vessels "stick together", the likelihood of infection in the resulting wound is minimal.
- The ability to remove papilloma anywhere in the human body.
- Lack of postoperative scars. According to medical recommendations for skin care, there are no traces left 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 getting ugly scars.
- Short rehabilitation period. The trail from the intervention heals in a week.
- The ability to eliminate neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter in laser therapy.
- Relative pain relief. Under the action of the light beam, most patients feel only heat, pain is noted only in people with increased sensitivity. To eliminate pain or discomfort, removal is done under local anesthesia.
- Security. It is allowed to eliminate papillomas even in childhood.
Despite the fact that laser removal has advantages over other methods and is performed in many beauty salons, it is necessary to consult a doctor before eliminating the formation.
The need for consultation is to distinguish papillomas from other neoplasms and to identify possible contraindications.
Disadvantages and possible contraindications
Despite the safety, laser removal of wart growth has several disadvantages:
- Scarring. This complication develops in people with low tissue regenerative capacity. Scars at the site of a removed wart are rare.
- Access to 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. Manifestations can vary: from local hyperemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. For neoplasms caused by HPV virus, laser removal is performed for a fee, and the price depends on the size of the wart and the number of formations.
- Inability to perform a cytological examination. With laser exposure, the cells in the wart formation are completely destroyed, and if tissue degeneration is suspected, it is necessary to study the removed papilloma.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of removal, there are absolute contraindications:
- endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, etc. );
- infectious and inflammatory processes in the skin at the site of localization of the growth;
- acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- recent prolonged exposure to the sun or a visit to the solarium (2 weeks should pass from the moment you get tanned);
- 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. A doctor's consultation helps to reduce the risk of complications.
Which 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 using laser destruction.
Laser therapy is indicated for the following types of wart formations:
- vulgar;
- condyloma;
- spines;
- flat;
- threadlike;
- on a thin leg.
A contraindication to the use of laser therapy is the suspicion that a pathological degeneration of tissue has occurred and a cytological examination is necessary. In this case, the removal is performed in a different way, which makes it possible to preserve the biomaterial for analysis.
Machine types
There are several types of papilloma removal equipment:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing 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 makes it possible to warm up the deep layers of the epidermis well and remove the skin cells that have been altered by papillomavirus. In addition to eliminating warts, the device is used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It has a gentle 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 takes place).
Doctors qualitatively remove papillomas with any of the devices described using laser beams as an alternative to a surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is considered one of the less traumatic methods of removing warts. However, 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 on the financial capabilities of the institution (units vary in cost).
Preparation for the procedure
Laser removal of papilloma does not require specialized training. But before going to the procedure, it is recommended:
- Determine the HPV strain. Some papillomaviruses are oncogenically dangerous.
- Show a wart 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 required which cannot be performed after laser elimination.
On the day of the procedure, clean the site of the wart and do not drink alcohol.
How is laser removal performed?
Laser destruction can conditionally be divided into several phases:
- antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- injection of local anesthetic (if necessary);
- layer-by-layer laser evaporation of papilloma.
Skin neoplasms are eliminated in a short time (from several seconds to several minutes) and no re-treatment is usually required.
Additional treatments may only be necessary if the tumor is large. In this case, to reduce trauma to the epithelium, layer-by-layer removal of the wart is performed for several days.
How to treat wounds after removal of papillomas
To avoid complications after the papilloma has been removed, doctors make the following recommendations:
- What to treat. It is necessary to use wound healing ointments or gels and wipe the postoperative wound with a weak manganese solution or calendula tincture. In case of low cell regeneration, 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 the crust that forms at the site of removal, or damage the wound. The crust will fall off by itself after the regeneration process is completed, and to avoid damage when rubbing with clothes, it is recommended to glue the place where the wart is removed with a bactericidal patch. But you do not have to constantly go with the patch - the wound needs air access for full healing.
After removing the papilloma with a laser, care is easy: you just do not need to damage the wound surface and regularly treat it with wound healing agents. At the risk of complications associated with the formation of scars, the doctor gives 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 of the doctor after laser removal of papillomas.
As a rule, the healing of the laser-treated skin surface takes place 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 crust.
In most patients, the scabs disappear by 7-10 days, and with the destruction of large wart formations, it may take longer. After the crust has fallen off, a smooth pink epidermis is visible at the site of removal, which gradually acquires a normal color.
Is it painful to remove a papilloma with a laser
Most patients are afraid of 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 instead 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 clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on the following:
- the reputation of the clinic;
- on what parts of the body are the warts (for face and genitals a "special approach" is necessary);
- size, as well as other factors.