Medical lasers are designed utilizing different technologies, intensity and colors. There are single purpose cosmetic lasers and can be used for a variety of cosmetic laser treatments. As technological advancements continue to evolve in the medical laser industry, the number of patients seeking non-invasive treatments for aesthetic and medical problems is growing at an exceptional rate. Following are some common treatment options that are available through the use of cosmetic lasers:
Hair Removal
Permanent hair removal is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments sought in the aesthetic industry. There are many lasers available on the market today that will permanently remove hair from the body. Today’s medical equipment can treat all hair colors on all skin types and even on tanned skinned. Older models may be limited in the type hair and skin types that can be treated.
Laser hair removal may take several sessions. A laser’s light is directed at the hair follicle and absorbed. Cooling devices are used to prevent damage to surrounding skin.
Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is another popular cosmetic laser treatment that many individuals are choosing to address aged or sun-damaged skin. Resurfacing is an ablative option that results in younger looking skin. Laser resurfacing is the process of using an intense light beam to target damaged surface skin. Resurfacing can address a variety of cosmetic issues such as wrinkles, age spots, face blemishes, scars, acne scars, stretch marks, sun damage and more. Fractional, carbon dioxide and Erbium YAG Lasers are used in laser ablation. Q-Switched Nd YAG lasers are for the non-ablative resurfacing of skin.
Laser Tattoo Removal
Tattoos have increased in popularity recently and so has the desire to remove unwanted tattoos. Tattoos were once difficult to remove but more and more lasers are able to target a variety of ink colors that were once difficult to remove. Q-Switched Ruby Lasers and ND YAG Lasers are two of the primary lasers that can effective remove tattoos. Several sessions are required for the treatment to be successful.
Port Wine Stains
Reddish birthmarks appear in about 0.3% of the population. These unsightly blemishes are called Port Wine Stains and are the result of an over-abundance of blood vessels in the skin. Pulsed Dye and Carbon Dioxide lasers are often used to treat this condition. The pulsed dye laser penetrates skin deep enough to target blood vessels responsible for port-wine stains. Multiple treatments are necesary to eliminate the stains.
Spider Nevi
Both spider angiomas and telangiectasias are types of Spider Nevi. Pulsed Dye lasers and Long Pulsed Nd YAG lasers are typically used to treat Spider Nevi. These lasers penetrate the skin and heats superficial blood vessels causing blood to coagulate and the vein to collapse.
Warts
More than two thirds of warts are caused by a virus called Human Papilloma. Typically warts are treated by using either a Pulsed Dye or Carbon Dioxide laser. Areas that can be treated are the hands, face and feet. Warts that are resistant to traditional methods of treatment can be readily eliminated with a pulse dye laser without a serious risk of scarring.
Scars
Keloid Scars are firm, raised and reddish-purple scars that extend beyond the initial wound area and build over time. Hypertrophic Scars are firm, raised and pink scars that remain within the initial wound area and may fade over time. Atrophic Scars are depressed pin-like pockets in the skin that can result from skin conditions or diseases such as acne. Such as acne scars or ice pick scars are resurfaced with the Erbium YAG laser or Carbon Dioxide Laser. Hypertrophic scars are flattened with the Pulsed Dye Laser.