Warts are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign that the body is infected with the papilloma virus and requires treatment. There are several ways to remove a neoplasm, but the most popular is laser papilloma removal. This method is considered one of the safest, it allows rapid removal of the papilloma, and removal of complications almost never occurs. However, laser is not a panacea and is not suitable for everyone. Let’s examine how laser therapy is performed, as well as learn about the pros and cons of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves the action of a neoplasm on a beam of light of a certain wavelength. Removal of papillomas results in:
- moisture evaporates from neoplasm cells;
- the cell structure begins to deteriorate.
The light beam that 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. 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 the exposure, without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Absence of blood. The light beam causes the blood vessels feeding the neoplasm to clot (wall adhesion) and therefore does not bleed during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. Due to the fact that the blood vessels "stick together", the chances of wound infection are minimal.
- Ability to remove papilloma anywhere in the human body.
- Lack of postoperative scars. According to medical skin care recommendations, no traces of laser exposure remain. This way, you can get rid of papillomas on the neck, face and other open parts of the body without risking the formation of ugly scars.
- Short rehabilitation period. The trace of the intervention heals within a week.
- Ability to remove neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter during laser treatment.
- Relative painlessness. During exposure to the light beam, most patients feel only heat, and pain is observed only in individuals with hypersensitivity. To eliminate pain or discomfort, removal is performed under local anesthesia.
- Security. Removal of papillomas is allowed 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 derivative.
The need for consultation is to distinguish papillomas from other tumors and identify possible contraindications.
Disadvantages and possible contraindications
Despite its safety, laser wart removal has several drawbacks:
- Scarring. This complication develops in people with low tissue regenerative capacity. Scars at the site of the removed wart are rare.
- Connection of secondary infection. Improper wound care after laser removal causes infection of the wound surface accompanied by edema or abscess.
- Allergy. There are no allergic manifestations of the laser, but a reaction to anesthesia may develop. Manifestations can range from local hyperemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. Laser removal of tumors caused by the HPV virus is done for a fee, and the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of derivatives.
- Inability to perform cytological examination. The cells of the wart derivative are completely destroyed by the laser, and if the tissue degeneration is suspected, the removed papilloma must be examined.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of removal, there are absolute contraindications:
- endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes, etc. );
- infectious and inflammatory skin processes at the site of growth;
- exacerbation of an acute or chronic illness;
- recently been in the sun for a long time or visited a solarium (2 weeks should pass from the moment of tanning);
- oncological processes;
- pregnancy and lactation.
Prior to 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
Whether it is dangerous to remove papillomas by laser will only be answered by a doctor who has examined the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed using laser extermination.
Laser therapy is used to treat the following types of carp:
- vulgar;
- condyloma;
- spines;
- apartment;
- thready;
- on a thin leg.
A contraindication to the use of laser therapy is the suspicion of pathological tissue degeneration, therefore cytological examination is necessary. In this case, the removal is performed in a different way, which allows the biomaterial to be saved for analysis.
Types of machines
There are several types of papilloma removal equipment:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing Laser). It is considered one of the safest, with a beam adjustment function that allows you to accurately calculate the depth of penetration into the fabric.
- Sciton, placed on a laser platform. The new technology allows the deep layers of the epidermis to be warmed up well, removing papillomavirus-replaced skin cells. The device not only kills warts, but is also used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It protects the epidermis and is used not only to remove wart growths, but also to rejuvenate the skin (while the upper layer of keratinized epithelium is being "removed").
Physicians qualitatively remove papillomas with any of the devices described, using laser beams as an alternative to a surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is considered one of the less traumatic ways 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 to determine contraindications.
The type of equipment purchased depends on the profile of the clinic (additional cosmetic services) and the financial capabilities of the institution (devices vary in cost).
Preparation for the procedure
Laser papilloma removal does not require special training. However, before performing the procedure, it is recommended that:
- Identify the HPV strain. Some papillomaviruses are oncogenically dangerous.
- Show the wart derivative to a dermatologist. This is important when 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 removal.
On the day of the procedure, the wart site should be cleansed and alcohol should not be consumed.
How is laser removal performed?
Laser destruction can be conditionally divided into several stages:
- antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- local anesthetic injection (if needed);
- layer by layer laser evaporation of papillomas.
Cutaneous neoplasms are removed in a short time (from a few seconds to a few minutes) and usually do not require re-treatment.
If the tumor is large, several treatments may be needed. In this case, the wart is removed layer by layer for several days to reduce epithelial trauma.
How to treat wounds after removing papillomas
To avoid complications after removing the papilloma, doctors make the following recommendations:
- What to process. It is necessary to use ointments or gels to treat wounds, and to clean 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 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 spontaneously, and it is recommended to apply a bactericidal patch to the wart removal site in order to avoid injury by rubbing with clothing. But you don’t have to walk around with plaster all the time - the wounds need air to heal completely.
Laser removal of papilloma is easy: all you need to do is not injure the surface of the wound and treat it regularly with wound healing agents. If there is a risk of complications associated with the formation of scars, your doctor will give you specific recommendations on how to care for your wound after the procedure.
Rehabilitation period
Although the recovery period after laser destruction is short, it is important to follow all of your doctor's recommendations for laser papilloma removal.
Healing of the laser-treated skin surface usually occurs a week after the procedure. To prevent scarring and scarring, it is necessary to take the recommended medication and do not try to peel the resulting crust.
For most patients, the crust disappears within 7-10 days, and it can take longer to destroy large wart formations. When the crust falls, a smooth pink epidermis is seen 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 confidence in the absence of pain is important for psychological comfort. The following can be said about laser therapy:
- only heat is felt at the laser site;
- suspicious patients or individuals with hypersensitivity to the skin are removed by laser under local anesthesia.
The removal time is short (maximum - a few minutes), 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 clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on the following:
- the reputation of the clinic;
- on which parts of the body have warts (the face and genitals need a "special treatment");
- size as well as other factors.