Warts are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign that the body is infected with the papillomavirus and needs treatment. There are several ways to get rid of neoplasms, but the most popular is papilloma laser removal. This method is considered to be one of the safest, it allows you to quickly get rid of papilloma, and after removal complications almost never occur. But the laser is not a panacea and is not suitable for everyone. Consider how laser therapy is performed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves exposing a neoplasm to a specific wavelength of light. The following is done when removing papillomas:
- Moisture evaporates from neoplasm cells;
- The cellular structure begins to deteriorate.
The beam of light that destroys the wart almost does not damage the epidermis. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
Advantages of equipment
Specialists who choose the method of papilloma removal prefer laser. Consider the main advantages of laser surgery:
- Low rate of injury. The depth of the beam is individually selected and during exposure only the wart is eliminated without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Bloodlessness. The beam of light causes the vessels supplying the neoplasm to coagulate (stick to the walls), so there is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. Because the vessel is "tied together, " the likelihood of infection in the received wound is minimal.
- Ability to remove papillomas anywhere in the human body.
- Lack of postoperative scars. Following the skin care medical recommendations, no traces remain at the laser exposure site. 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. The trail heals in a week after the intervention.
- Ability to eliminate neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter during laser therapy.
- Relative painlessness. Most patients feel only heat during the action of the light beam, the pain is observed only in people with hypersensitivity. To eliminate pain or discomfort, removal is done under local anesthesia.
- Safety. It is allowed to eliminate papillomas even in childhood.
Although laser removal has advantages over other methods and is performed in many beauty salons, it is essential to consult a doctor before the formation is eliminated.
The need for consultation is to distinguish papillomas from other neoplasms and identify possible contraindications.
Disadvantages and possible contraindications
Despite their safety, laser removal of wart formations has several disadvantages:
- Scar formation. This complication develops in people with low tissue regenerative ability. Scars at the site of the removed wart are rare.
- Secondary infection connection. Improper wound care after laser removal causes infection of the wound surface, accompanied by swelling or pus.
- Allergy. The laser has no allergic manifestations, but may develop a reaction to anesthesia. Manifestations can range from local hyperemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. Laser removal for HPV-induced neoplasms is costly and the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of growths.
- Inability to conduct cytological examination. Laser exposure completely destroys the wart-forming cells, and in case of suspected tissue degeneration it is necessary to study the removed papilloma.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of removal, there are absolute contraindications:
- Endocrine disorders (thyroid disease, diabetes, etc. );
- Infectious and inflammatory processes of the skin increase at the site of localization;
- Acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- Recent prolonged exposure to the sun or a visit to the solarium (2 weeks should pass from the moment of tanning);
- Oncological processes;
- Pregnancy and lactation.
Before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient, determines 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, only the doctor will answer after examining the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed using laser destruction.
Laser therapy has been shown to treat the following types of warts:
- Vulgar;
- Warts;
- Vertebrae;
- Apartment;
- Threaded;
- Thin legs.
Contraindications to the use of laser therapy are suspected abnormal tissue degeneration and cytological examination is necessary. In this case the removal is done differently, which makes it possible to store the biomass for analysis.
Types of cars
There are several types of equipment to remove 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 fabric.
- Sciton embedded in a laser platform. New technology makes it possible to thoroughly heat the deeper layers of the epidermis, removing papillomavirus-modified skin cells. In addition to eliminating warts, the device is used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It has a calming effect on the epidermis and is used not only to remove wart formations, but also to rejuvenate the skin (this is the process of "removal" of the top layer of keratinized epithelium).
Doctors qualitatively remove papillomas with any of the described devices, using laser beams as an alternative to a surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is considered to be one of the less traumatic methods to eliminate warts. But, despite the safety of the procedure, it is necessary to consult a doctor before performing it to reduce the risk of side effects and detect contraindications.
The type of equipment purchased depends on the profile of the clinic (additional delivery of cosmetic services) and the financial capabilities of the facility (equipment varies in cost).
Preparation for the procedure
Laser removal of papilloma does not require specialized training. But before you go for the procedure, it is recommended:
- Determine the HPV strain. Some papillomaviruses are oncogenically dangerous.
- Show wart formation to a dermatologist. This is important when changing the color or shape of the papilloma. In case of suspicion of oncological process, cytological examination is necessary, which is impossible after laser elimination.
On the day of the procedure, you should wash the area of the wart localization and do not drink alcohol.
How is laser removal done?
Laser destruction can be conventionally divided into several stages:
- Antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- Local anesthetic injection (if necessary);
- Laser evaporation of papilloma layer-by-layer.
Skin neoplasms are eliminated in a short time (from a few seconds to a few minutes) and usually no re-treatment is required.
Several treatments may be needed only if the tumor is large. In this case, layer-by-layer removal of the wart is performed over several days to reduce trauma to the epithelium.
How to treat wounds after removal of papillomas
To avoid complications after papilloma removal, doctors give the following recommendations:
- What to process. It is necessary to use wound healing ointments or gels and clean the postoperative wound with a weak solution of manganese or calendula tincture. With low cell regeneration, you should consult a dermatologist on how to treat the postoperative surface to avoid scarring.
- What not to do after the procedure. It is strictly forbidden to remove the crust formed at the site of removal or to damage the wound. After the regeneration process is complete, the bark falls out by itself and to prevent injury while rubbing with clothes, it is recommended to apply bactericidal plaster to the wart removal site. But you do not need to constantly plaster the wound - the wound needs access to air for complete healing.
Care after laser papilloma removal is simple: you just do not need to damage the wound surface and treat the wound regularly with treatment. At the risk of complications associated with the formation of scars, the doctor makes 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 doctor's recommendations after laser removal of papillomas.
Laser treatment of the skin surface usually takes place one week after the procedure. To prevent the appearance of scars and scars it is necessary to use the recommended medications and do not try to remove the resulting crust.
In most patients the crusts disappear within 7-10 days and may take longer with the destruction of the large wart formations. After the peeling of the crust, a smooth pink epidermis is seen at the site of removal, which gradually takes on a normal color.
Is it painful to remove a papilloma with a laser?
Most patients are afraid of pain and the absence of pain is important for psychological comfort. The following can be said about laser therapy:
- Only heat is felt at the site of laser action;
- Suspicious patients or individuals with skin hypersensitivity undergo laser removal under local 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.
What is the cost of services in clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on the following:
- The reputation of the clinic;
- Which parts of the body have warts (a "special approach" is needed for the face and genitals);
- Size, as well as other factors.