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 to remove the papillomas with a laser. This method is considered one of the safest, allows for rapid removal of the papilloma, and complications almost never occur after removal. But the laser is not a panacea and is not for everyone. Let’s take a look at how laser therapy is done and learn about the pros and cons of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves exposing the tumor to a beam of light of a specified wavelength. When removing papillomas, the following occurs:
- moisture evaporates from the neoplasm cell;
- the cellular structure begins to deteriorate.
The ray of light that destroys the wart hardly damages the epidermis. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
Advantages of the technique
Those skilled in the art will prefer to use a laser to remove the papilloma. Consider the main benefits of laser surgery:
- Low injury rate. The depth of the beam is selected 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 tumor to coagulate (clump together) 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.
- Ability to remove papilloma anywhere in the human body.
- Lack of postoperative scars. In accordance with medical recommendations for skin care, no trace is left at the site of laser exposure. This allows the papillomas to get rid of on the neck, face and other exposed parts of the body without the risk of developing nasty scars.
- Short rehabilitation period. Traces of the intervention will heal in a week.
- Ability to eliminate neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter with laser therapy.
- Relative pain relief. During the operation of the light beam, most patients only feel warm, they only feel pain when they are hypersensitive. Removal is performed under local anesthesia to eliminate pain or discomfort.
- Safety. Removal of papillomas is allowed even in childhood.
Although laser removal has advantages over other methods and is performed in many beauty salons, you should 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 the safety, laser removal of wart growths has several drawbacks:
- Scar formation. This complication occurs in people with low tissue regeneration capacity. Scars at the site of the removed wart are rare.
- Connection of secondary infection. Improper wound treatment after laser removal can lead to infection of the wound surface, accompanied by edema or purulence.
- Allergy. The laser has no allergic manifestations, but a reaction to anesthesia may occur. Manifestations can range from local hyperemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. For neoplasms caused by the HPV virus, laser removal is done for a fee, the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of formations.
- Inability to perform cytological examination. With laser exposure, the cells of 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 also absolute contraindications:
- endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes, etc. );
- infectious and inflammatory processes of the skin at the site of growth localization;
- exacerbation of acute or chronic diseases;
- recent sunbathing or tanning visit (2 weeks from the moment of tanning);
- oncological processes;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Prior to the procedure, the doctor examines the patient to determine possible complications after removal of the papilloma and the presence of contraindications. Medical consultation will help 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 responds after examining the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed by laser destruction.
Laser therapy is recommended for the following types of wart formations:
- vulgar;
- condylomas;
- spikes;
- apartment;
- filamentous;
- on thin legs.
The contraindication to the use of laser therapy is the suspicion of abnormal tissue degeneration and cytological examination is required. In this case, the removal is performed in a different way, which allows the biomaterial to be preserved for analysis.
Machine types
There are several devices for removing papillomas:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing Laser). It is equipped with one of the safest beam adjustment functions that allows accurate calculation of the depth of penetration into the tissue.
- Sciton embedded in the laser platform. The new technology allows for good heating of the deep layers of the epidermis, removing skin cells altered by papillomavirus. In addition to eliminating warts, the tool is also used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It has a gentle effect on the epidermis and serves not only to remove warty growths but also to rejuvenate the skin (while "removing" the top layer of keratinized epithelium).
Physicians qualitatively remove papillomas using any of the tools described, using a laser beam as an alternative to a surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is one of the less traumatic methods to remove warts. However, despite the safety of the procedure, a doctor should be consulted 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 (cost of equipment varies).
Preparing for the procedure
Laser removal of papilloma does not require special training. However, before you begin the procedure, it is recommended that you:
- Identify the HPV strain. Some papillomaviruses are oncogenic.
- Show wart formation to dermatologist. This is important if 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, the wart site should be cleansed and no alcohol should be drunk.
How is laser removal done?
Laser destruction can be divided into several stages:
- antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- local anesthetic injection (if necessary);
- laser evaporation of the papilloma layer by layer.
Skin tumors disappear in a short time (from a few seconds to a few minutes) and usually do not require re-treatment.
Multiple treatments may only be needed if the tumor is large. In this case, the wart is removed in layers for several days to reduce the trauma to the epithelium.
How to treat wounds after removing papillomas
To avoid complications after removal of the papilloma, doctors make the following recommendations:
- What needs to be processed. It is necessary to use wound healing ointments or gels and to wipe the postoperative wound with a weak solution of manganese or marigold tincture. In case of low cell regeneration, a dermatologist should be consulted on how to treat the postoperative surface to avoid scarring.
- What not to do after the procedure. It is strictly forbidden to peel off the bark formed at the site of removal or to damage the wound. After the regeneration process is complete, the bark will fall off on its own, and it is recommended that the wart removal site be bonded with a bactericidal patch to prevent damage from rubbing with the clothes. But you don’t have to go with the plaster all the time - the wound needs to get air to fully heal.
After laser removal of the papilloma, care is simple: you just don’t have to damage the wound surface and you need to treat it regularly with wound healing agents. If you are at risk of complications from scarring, your doctor will give you special recommendations for wound care after the procedure.
Rehabilitation period
Although the recovery period after laser destruction is short, it is important to follow all the recommendations given by your doctor after laser removal of papillomas.
Healing of the laser-treated skin surface usually occurs one week after the procedure. To prevent the appearance of scars and scars, the recommended medications should be used and no attempt should be made to peel off the formed bark.
In most patients, the bark disappears in 7 to 10 days, and this can take more time for large wart formations to die. After the bark has fallen, a smooth pink peel is visible at the site of removal, gradually taking on a normal color.
Is it painful to remove the papilloma with a laser
Most patients are afraid of pain, and confidence in the absence of pain is important for mental comfort. The following can be said about laser therapy:
- only heat can be felt at the site of the laser effect;
- suspect patients or individuals with hypersensitive skin undergo local laser anesthesia.
The removal time is short (maximum - a few minutes) and only a 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 the clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on:
- the reputation of the clinic;
- which parts of the body the warts are on (a "special approach" is required for the face and genitals);
- size as well as other factors.