Warts are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign that the body is infected with the papilloma virus and needs treatment. There are several ways to prevent neoplasms, but the most popular is laser papilloma removal. This method is considered one of the safest, it allows you to quickly remove the papilloma, and after removal, complications almost never occur. But a laser is not a panacea and is not for everyone. Let's consider how laser therapy is performed, as well as get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves exposing a neoplasm to a beam of light of a certain wavelength. Removing papillomas:
- moisture evaporates from neoplasm cells;
- the cell structure begins to deteriorate.
The light beam, which destroys the wart, hardly damages the epidermis. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
Advantages of technology
Specialists prefer a laser when choosing a papilloma removal method. Let's look at the main advantages of laser surgery:
- Low injury rate. The depth of the beam is selected individually and only warts are removed during exposure without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Anemia. The light beam causes the vessels supplying the tumor to coagulate (adhesion to the walls), so there is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. Due to the fact that the dishes "stick together", the possibility of infection in the resulting wound is minimal.
- Ability to remove papilloma anywhere in the human body.
- Lack of postoperative scars. Follow the medical advice for skin care without leaving any traces on the laser. 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. Traces of intervention heal within a week.
- Ability to remove neoplasms of any size. With laser therapy, the size of the wart does not matter.
- Relative painlessness. During exposure to the light beam, most patients feel only heat, pain is observed only in people with hypersensitivity. Removal is performed under local anesthesia to prevent pain or discomfort.
- Safety. 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 removing the formation.
The need for consultation is to distinguish papillomas from other neoplasms and identify possible contraindications.
Disadvantages and possible contraindications
Despite the safety, laser wart removal has several drawbacks:
- Scarring. This complication develops in people with low tissue regeneration. Scars instead of removed warts are rare.
- Accession of secondary infection. Improper wound care after laser removal leads to infection of the wound surface, accompanied by edema or purulence.
- Allergy. The laser has no allergic reactions, but a reaction to anesthesia may develop. Manifestations can range from local hyperaemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. For neoplasms caused by the HPV virus, laser removal is chargeable and the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of formations.
- Failure to perform cytological examination. The laser cells completely destroy the wart-forming cells, and if tissue degeneration is suspected, it is necessary to examine the removed papilloma.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of withdrawal, there are absolute contraindications:
- endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes, etc. );
- skin infection and inflammatory processes at the site of growth;
- exacerbation of acute or chronic diseases;
- have recently had a long stay in the sun or a visit to a solarium (2 weeks must have elapsed since the tan);
- oncological processes;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient for possible complications after removal of the papilloma and the presence of contraindications. Consulting a doctor helps reduce the risk of complications.
What papillomas can be removed with a laser
Is it dangerous to remove papillomas with a laser? Only the doctor will answer after examining the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed with laser destruction.
Laser therapy is indicated for the following wart formations:
- vulgar;
- condyloma;
- spines;
- flat;
- filamentous;
- on a thin leg.
A contraindication to the use of laser therapy is the suspicion of abnormal tissue degeneration and the need for cytological examination. In this case, the removal is performed in a different way that allows the biomaterial to be preserved for analysis.
Types of machines
There are several types of equipment for removing papillomas:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing Laser). It is considered to be one of the safest, equipped with a beam adjustment function that allows you to accurately calculate the depth of penetration into the tissues.
- Sciton is embedded in a laser platform. The new technology allows the deep layers of the epidermis to be warmed up, removing the altered skin cells of the papillomavirus. In addition to wart removal, 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 wart growths, but also to regenerate the skin (while the process of "removing" the upper layer of keratinized epithelium is underway).
Physicians qualitatively remove papillomas with any of the devices described, using laser beams as an alternative to a surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is considered to be 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 (provision of additional cosmetic services) and the financial capabilities of the institution (devices vary in cost).
Preparing for the procedure
Laser papilloma removal does not require specialized training. But before going to the procedure, it is recommended:
- Identify the HPV strain. Some papillomaviruses are oncogenic.
- Show the wart formation to the dermatologist. This is important if the color or shape of the papilloma changes. If an oncological process is suspected, cytological examination is required and cannot be performed after laser elimination.
On the day of the procedure, the wart site should be cleansed and no alcohol should be consumed.
How is laser removal performed?
Laser destruction can be divided into several stages:
- antiseptic skin surface treatment;
- injection of a local anesthetic (if necessary);
- layer evaporation of papilloma laser.
Cutaneous neoplasms are eliminated in a short period of time (several seconds to several minutes) and usually do not require re-treatment.
Multiple treatments may only be needed if the tumor is large. In this case, to reduce the epithelial trauma, the warts are removed layer by layer for several days.
How to treat wounds after papilloma removal
To avoid complications after removing the papilloma, doctors recommend the following:
- What to process. It is necessary to use wound healing ointments or gels and wipe the postoperative wound with a weak solution of manganese or calendula tincture. In case of low cell regeneration, a dermatologist should be consulted on how to treat the postoperative surface to prevent scarring.
- What not to do after the procedure. It is strictly forbidden to peel off the crust or injure the wound. At the end of the regeneration process, the crust will fall off on its own, and it is recommended to glue the wart removal area with bactericidal plaster to avoid injuries when rubbing with clothes. But you do not need to walk constantly with plaster - the wound needs access to air for complete healing.
After removing the papilloma with a laser, care is simple: you simply do not have to injure the surface of the wound and treat it regularly with wound healing agents. At the risk of complications associated with scarring, your doctor will give you specific advice on how to treat your wound after the procedure.
Rehabilitation period
Although the recovery period after laser destruction is short, it is important to follow all the doctor's recommendations after removing the papilloma laser.
The surface of the laser-treated skin usually heals a week after the procedure. To prevent scarring and scarring, it is necessary to use the recommended medication and do not try to peel off the formed crust.
In most patients, the cortex disappears in 7-10 days, and it may take longer to destroy large wart formations. After the crust has fallen, a smooth pink epidermis appears 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 making sure there is no pain is important for psychological comfort. The following can be said about laser therapy:
- only heat is felt at the laser site;
- Laser removal is performed under local anesthesia in suspected patients or individuals with hypersensitivity to the skin.
The removal time is short (maximum a few minutes) and only a slight discomfort is felt in place 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 reputation of the clinic;
- on which parts of the body there are warts (the face and genitals require a "special approach");
- size as well as other factors.