Removal of neoplasms with a laser is a very common and effective procedure that helps to 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 this could cause considerable discomfort to the patient, while laser removal shows good results with painless intervention.
Why remove
Papillomas, which are growths of various shapes and sizes, are usually benign neoplasms. They are localized on the mucous membranes of the wearer or his skin. The main reason for their appearance is the action of the human papillomavirus, in most cases sexually transmitted.
Removing these build-ups performs several tasks at once:
- Aesthetic correction.A patient with growths may be uncomfortable with excessive attention to them from others. Because of this, a person may feel insecure and uncomfortable, even if the growth does not pose a danger to him.
- Injury prevention.If the growth is in a traumatic place where the patient constantly touches it, this can lead to the separation of the protruding part. In addition, when trying to cover the papilloma with clothing, there may be such a problem as rubbing the affected area. This is fraught with injury 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 must 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 in nature, there is such a variety of their manifestation as warts. They are usually located in intimate places and pose a great danger in terms of the development of cancer. To prevent the disease, all warts must be removed.
Do not remove growths on your own. Any attempts to tie a papilloma with a thread, comb, apply some kind of chemical agent on it can worsen its condition.
Benefits of the procedure
Laser destruction has several advantages over other methods of removal.These include:
- Guaranteed result.Thanks to the effect of the laser, the growth is completely removed, leaving nothing even in the deep subcutaneous layers. The device is able to penetrate deep enough to clean out all traces of the presence of a neoplasm.
- Painlessness.The exposure to the laser gives the patient minimal pain. If you add to the procedure preliminary anesthesia with local anesthetics, there is no pain at all.
- Procedure speed. Removing papillomas with a laser requires 2 to 5 minutes per element.
- Non-invasiveness.The laser beam is in a strictly limited area and does not go beyond it. Moreover, more than one part of the laser does not touch the site of the procedure. This is very important, as this method helps to minimize the risk of infection and gives a high guarantee of sterility.
- No postoperative scars.If the work is done correctly, there should be no traces of the laser action at the site of exposure. This is due to the fact that the affected tissue is completely evaporated, and then new, intact skin takes its place.
- Bloodless way to delete.The laser beam heats up the capillaries supplying blood, quickly sealing their walls. As a result, bleeding stops and does not resume after surgery.
- Suitable for different body parts.Not all removal methods can be used on every part of the body. Intimate places, eyelid, etc. are considered especially sensitive. Laser destruction does a good job of dealing with growths in such areas due to the precision of the laser beam.
All these factors make laser removal one of the most requested procedures for getting rid of growths.
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;
- poor blood clotting;
- HIV or AIDS;
- acute inflammatory diseases.
In addition, patients who have recently had influenza or acute respiratory infections should also postpone the procedure for some time.
Procedure description
Before starting any procedure to remove growths, the doctor will disinfect the area to be operated on. In some cases, local anesthetic pain relief is used. Typically, an ointment or spray is used for this. After applying the anesthetic drug, 2-3 minutes pass, and the removal process begins.
The laser beam is directed to the affected area and, as it were, cauterizes the unwanted growth. At this moment, the contents of the cells are evaporated under the influence of the laser, removing each layer of the affected tissue. This happens not only in easily accessible places in open spaces. The procedure for removing 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 places are removed according to the same principle. But here the doctor usually uses an anesthetic injection as an anesthetic, injecting the growth from different sides.
The very moment of needle insertion can be somewhat painful, but after a couple of minutes the sensitivity in the area of influence completely disappears, 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 build-up, the doctor treats the affected area with potassium permanganate.
After the procedure, the patient may have slight redness, itching or mild soreness at the site of removal of the papilloma.
This reaction is considered normal, since, despite the non-invasiveness of the procedure, during the operation there was an intervention in the integrity of the skin.All discomfort should completely disappear 2-4 days after the procedure.
A dry crust appears later over the wound. Under it is a layer of already healthy skin, so 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 a longer time.
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 skin inflammation, it can contribute to the appearance of pigmentation. If the skin itself is very sensitive, there may be a slight reddening associated with a burn. With a high allergic reaction, edema may occur at the site of exposure.
To exclude all undesirable consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor before carrying out laser destruction.
Care after the procedure
After removing the build-up, the patient must adhere to the following rules:
- do not allow water to enter 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 use adhesive plaster on the wound;
- do not treat the papilloma removal site with scrubs, lotions, which contain alcohol;
- avoid exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Several times a day, it is necessary to carry out antiseptic treatment of the wound. This must be done up to the moment the scab is separated. This treatment should prevent infection and help speed up the time of complete healing.For the treatment of the damaged area, you can take iodine or a solution of potassium permanganate.
After the removal site can be treated with anti-inflammatory ointments.
Their action is aimed at accelerating 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 method of dealing with unwanted growth. There are also other ways, among which stand out:
Cryodestruction.
Based on the removal of papillomas with liquid nitrogen. Due to exposure to low temperatures, the build-up 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 deeply, touching a healthy area, or vice versa, affect only superficially, without affecting all layers of localization of the build-up.
In addition, this method is characterized by:
- the possibility of postoperative scars;
- painful sensations;
- inability to guarantee the result after the first procedure.
Thus, laser destruction shows greater efficiency compared to cryodestruction. Removal with a laser is less painful and more likely to guarantee the desired result.
Radio wave removal.
This method of destruction is carried out using a special apparatus that acts on the papilloma through radio waves. This contributes to the excision of the build-up 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 lesions. It is highly efficient, which makes it as popular as laser destruction. Both methods are considered modern approaches to removing papillomas and are equally well used in medicine.
Electrocoagulation.
This method is based on the action of a high-frequency electric current acting on the papilloma directly at the site of the lesion. Electrocoagulation is now considered a common but outdated method. This method allows you to prevent bleeding after removal of the papilloma by burning the vessels.
However, when using high-frequency current, patients experience pain that appears even after anesthesia. This makes some patients abandon electrocautery, opting 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 carried out, but also on the number, size and location of the removed growths.
In many clinics there is a discount for the removal of new growths in bulk: the more a patient has, the cheaper it will be to remove one growth.
Getting rid of a growth in the genital area can be significantly more expensive than on other parts of the body. Moreover, not every clinic provides such a service due to the complexity of such a manipulation.