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 remove neoplasms, but the most popular is laser removal of papillomas. This method is considered one of the safest, it allows you to quickly remove the papilloma, and after removal, complications almost never occur. However, lasers are not a panacea and are not suitable for everyone. Let's take a look at how laser therapy is performed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves exposing the neoplasm to a beam of light of a certain wavelength. The following happens when removing papillomas:
- moisture evaporates from the cells of the neoplasm;
- cell structure begins to deteriorate.
The beam of light that destroys the skin almost does not damage the epidermis. The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.
Advantages of the technique
Specialists who choose a method to remove papilloma prefer laser. Let's look at the main advantages of laser surgery:
- Low injury rate. The depth of the beam is chosen individually, and only the wart is removed during exposure without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Anemia. The light beam causes the blood vessels that supply the neoplasm to clot (stick to the walls), so there is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. The likelihood of wound infection due to the "sticking" of blood vessels is minimal.
- The ability to remove papillomas anywhere on the human body.
- No postoperative scars. According to medical recommendations for skin care, there is no trace of laser exposure. This allows you 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 scar from the intervention heals within a week.
- Ability to remove neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter with laser therapy.
- Relative painlessness. Most patients feel only heat during the movement of the light beam, and pain is noted only in people with increased sensitivity. Removal is performed under local anesthesia to relieve pain or discomfort.
- Security. Such papillomas are allowed to be removed in childhood.
Although 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 to identify possible contraindications.
Disadvantages and possible contraindications
Despite its safety, laser removal of warts has a number of disadvantages:
- Scar formation. This complication develops in people with low tissue regeneration. Scars are rare at the site of the removed wart.
- Inclusion of secondary infection. Improper care of the wound after laser removal can lead to infection of the wound surface, accompanied by edema or pus.
- Allergy. There are no allergic reactions 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 the HPV virus, laser removal is paid and the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of formations.
- Inability to conduct cytological research. When exposed to a laser, the cells of the wart formation are completely destroyed, and if tissue degeneration is suspected, the removed papilloma should be studied.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of withdrawal, there are definitely contraindications:
- endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, etc. );
- infectious and inflammatory processes of the skin at the site of localization of growth;
- acute illnesses or exacerbations of chronic diseases;
- recent prolonged exposure to the sun or a visit to the solarium (it should be 2 weeks after dark);
- oncological processes;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient, determines the presence of possible complications and contraindications after the removal of the papilloma. A doctor's consultation can help reduce the risk of complications.
Which papillomas can be removed with a laser
Is laser removal of papillomas dangerous? The doctor will answer only after examining the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed by laser destruction.
Laser therapy is indicated for the following types of wart formations:
- vulgar;
- condylomata;
- vertebrae;
- straight;
- like a rope;
- on a thin foot.
Contraindications to the use of laser therapy are the suspicion of pathological degeneration of tissues and the need for cytological examination. In this case, the extraction is carried out in a different way, which allows the biomaterial to be stored for analysis.
Types of machines
There are several types of equipment for removing papillomas:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Surfacing Laser). It is considered one of the safest, equipped with a beam adjustment function that allows you to accurately calculate the depth of penetration into the tissue.
- Mounted on a Sciton laser platform. The new technology allows to heat the deep layers of the epidermis and remove skin cells altered by papillomavirus. In addition to removing warts, the device is also used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It has a frugal effect on the epidermis and is used not only to eliminate wart growth, but also to rejuvenate the skin (this is the process of "removal" of the upper layer of keratinized epithelium).
Doctors use laser beams as an alternative to a surgical scalpel to remove papillomas qualitatively with any device described.
Laser destruction is considered one of the less traumatic methods to remove 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 cosmetic services) and the financial capacity of the enterprise (devices differ in price).
Preparation for the procedure
Laser removal of papillomas does not require special training. But before the procedure, it is recommended:
- Identify the HPV strain. Some papillomaviruses are oncogenic.
- Show a dermatologist about wart formation. This is important when the color or shape of the papilloma changes. If you suspect an oncological process, you will need a cytological examination, which cannot be done after laser removal.
On the day of the procedure, the wart site should be washed clean and alcohol should not be consumed.
How is laser removal performed?
Laser destruction can be divided into several stages:
- antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- local anesthetic injection (if necessary);
- laser evaporation of papillomas.
Skin neoplasms are removed in a short time (from a few seconds to a few minutes) and usually do not require re-treatment.
Only when the tumor is large may several treatments be required. In this case, in order to reduce the damage to the epithelium, the wart is removed several times.
How to treat wounds after removing papillomas
To prevent complications after papilloma removal, doctors recommend the following:
- What to process. Wound healing ointments or gels should be used and the postoperative wound should be wiped with a weak manganese solution or calendula tincture. With low cell regeneration, you should consult a dermatologist on how to treat the postoperative surface to prevent scarring.
- What not to do after the procedure. It is strictly forbidden to peel the skin or injure the wound. After the regeneration process, the bark will fall off on its own, and it is recommended to apply a bactericidal plaster to the area where the wart was removed to prevent damage when rubbing with clothes. However, it is not necessary to constantly walk with plaster - you need access to air for complete healing of the wound.
Once the papilloma has been removed with a laser, it is easy to care for: you don't just have to damage the wound surface, you have to treat it regularly with wound healing agents. At the risk of complications associated with the formation of scars, the doctor gives specific recommendations on how to care for the wound after the procedure.
Rehabilitation period
Although the recovery period after laser removal is short, it is important to follow all the recommendations given by your doctor after laser removal of papillomas.
As a rule, the improvement of the laser-treated skin surface occurs one week after the procedure. To prevent the appearance of scars and scars, it is necessary to use the recommended drugs and do not try to peel the resulting crust.
In most patients, the crusts disappear in 7-10 days and may take longer with the destruction of large warty formations. After the peel falls off, a smooth pink epidermis appears at the site of removal, gradually acquiring a normal color.
Is laser papilloma painful?
Most patients are afraid of pain, and the belief that there is no pain is important for psychological comfort. The following can be said about laser therapy:
- only heat is felt at the site of laser movement;
- Suspicious patients or people with skin sensitivities undergo laser removal under local anesthesia.
The removal time is short (maximum - a few minutes) and only a small discomfort is felt at the site of the removed wart, which disappears in the first days after destruction.
How much is the service in the clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on the following.
- reputation of the clinic;
- what parts of the body have warts (need a "special approach" to the face and genitals);
- size, as well as other factors.