Laser tumor removal is a very common and effective procedure that helps remove unwanted growths. This is a relatively new method that appeared in the medical arsenal not so long ago, but has already managed to prove its advantage over other methods of removal. The precursors of laser destruction were removal with liquid nitrogen, electricity or a scalpel. All of this could cause considerable discomfort to the patient, while laser removal shows high results with painless intervention.
Why remove
Papillomas, which are growths of various shapes and sizes, are usually benign neoplasms. They are localized on the mucous membranes of the wearer or his skin. The main reason for their appearance is the action of human papilloma virus, which in most cases is transmitted sexually.
Removing these accumulations performs several tasks at once:
- Aesthetic correction.A patient with growths may be embarrassed by others paying too much attention to them. As a result, a person may feel insecure and uncomfortable, even if growth does not pose a danger to them.
- Injury prevention.If the growth is in a traumatic place where the patient is constantly touching it, it can lead to the separation of the protruding part. In addition, when trying to cover the papilloma with clothing, there may be such a problem as rubbing the affected area. This is fraught with papilloma injury and possible subsequent infection. Damage can lead to microbial penetration, which can cause inflammation in the wound. If this happens, the damaged area must be treated with peroxide and go to the clinic immediately to remove the remaining part of the papilloma.
- Reducing the risk of cancer.Despite the fact that the growths are benign in nature, there is such a variety of their manifestations as warts. They are usually found in intimate places and pose a great danger in terms of cancer development. To prevent the disease, all warts must be removed.
Do not remove growths on your own. Any attempt to tie the papilloma with a thread, comb, or some kind of chemical agent can worsen its condition.
Benefits of the procedure
Laser destruction has several advantages over other removal methods.These include:
- Guaranteed result.Thanks to the laser effect, the growth is completely removed, leaving nothing even in the deep subcutaneous layers. The device can penetrate deep enough to clear all traces of the presence of a neoplasm.
- Painlessness.Laser exposure gives the patient minimal pain. If you add preliminary anesthesia to local anesthetics to the procedure, there will be no pain at all.
- Process Speed . Laser papilloma removal takes 2 to 5 minutes per element.
- Noninvasiveness.The laser beam is located in a strictly limited area and does not cross it. In this case, more than one part of the laser does not touch the procedure site. This is very important because this method helps reduce the risk of infection and gives a high guarantee of sterility.
- No postoperative scars.If the work is done correctly, there should be no traces of laser action at the point of exposure. This is due to the fact that the affected tissue completely evaporates and then its place is taken by new, intact skin.
- A bloodless way to delete.The laser beam heats the capillaries that supply blood, quickly closing their walls. As a result, the bleeding stops and does not continue after the operation.
- Suitable for different body parts.Not all removal methods can be used on all parts of the body. Intimate places, eyelids, etc. They are considered particularly sensitive. Laser destruction copes well with growths in such areas thanks to the precision of the laser beam.
All of these factors make laser removal one of the most sought after procedures for removing growths.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for this procedure is not as long as for other methods of destruction.Among the laser removal bans:
- diabetes mellitus;
- oncology;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- epilepsy;
- diseases associated with endocrine system problems;
- poor blood clotting; HIV or AIDS;
- acute inflammatory diseases.
In addition, patients who have recently had the flu or acute respiratory infections should delay the procedure for a while.
Description of the procedure
Before starting any growth removal procedure, the doctor will disinfect the area to be operated on. In some cases, a local anesthetic is used. Ointment or spray is usually used for this. After the application of the anesthetic drug, 2-3 minutes pass and the removal procedure itself begins.
The laser beam is directed at the affected area and, as it were, cauterizes unwanted growth. At this point, the contents of the cells evaporate under the influence of the laser, removing each layer of the affected tissue. This happens not only in easily accessible places in open spaces. The procedure for removing papillomas, for example, on the eyelid, is the same. The only nuance in this area is that the patient uses a special cooling method to prevent pain and burns at this sensitive point.
Neoplasms in intimate places are removed according to the same principle. But here the doctor usually uses an injection of anesthetic as an anesthetic, injecting the growth from different sides.
The very moment of inserting the needle can be somewhat painful, but after a few minutes the sensitivity in the area of impact completely disappears, and further manipulations are completely painless.
The affected area turns into a small bloodless wound. At the time of destruction, it is disinfected due to the operation of the laser. After removing the lumps, the doctor treats the affected area with potassium permanganate.
After the procedure, the patient may have mild redness, itching, or mild pain at the site of papilloma removal.
This reaction is considered normal because, despite the non-invasiveness of the procedure, an intervention in the integrity of the skin occurred during the operation.All discomfort should disappear completely 2-4 days after the procedure.
Dry bark appears later over the wound. Beneath it is a layer of already healthy skin, so that its protective sheath cannot be torn off until it falls off on its own. Otherwise, the scar may remain on the skin, and the recovery process itself may take longer.
Consequences
Complications after laser destruction are rare. Their presence is usually associated with diseases that the patient already has, which he did not cure before the procedure. Thus, for example, if a patient has had inflammation of the skin, this may contribute to the appearance of pigmentation. If the skin itself is very sensitive, there may be a slight redness associated with the burn. With a severe allergic reaction, edema may occur at the site of exposure.
To rule out any side effects, consult a doctor before performing laser destruction.
Post-procedure care
After removing the lumps, the patient must adhere to the following rules:
- do not allow water to enter the wound for 2-3 days;
- refrain from visiting saunas, bathrooms and swimming pools;
- do not rub the damaged area with a towel;
- do not use adhesive plaster on the wound;
- do not treat the papilloma removal site with peels, lotions containing alcohol;
- Avoid exposure to ultraviolet rays.
It is necessary to perform antiseptic treatment of the wound several times a day. This must be done by the time the scab is removed. This treatment should prevent infection and help speed up the time of complete healing.You can take iodine or a solution of potassium permanganate to treat the damaged area.
After removal, the site can be treated with anti-inflammatory ointments.
Their action is aimed at accelerating tissue regeneration, alleviating inflammation and edema. Before choosing a particular drug, it is best to consult a doctor.
Which method is better
Laser removal is not the only way to deal with unwanted growth. There are other ways, among which are:
Cryodestruction.
Based on papilloma removal with liquid nitrogen. Due to exposure to low temperatures, the accumulations begin to collapse and eventually disappear completely. The method is effective, but has several drawbacks. Among them is the impossibility of complete control of the depth of nitrogen action. The substance can pass very deeply, touching a healthy area or, conversely, affect only superficially, without affecting all layers of cluster localization.
In addition, this method is characterized by:
- possibility of postoperative scars;
- painful sensations;
- inability to guarantee results after the first procedure.
Thus, laser destruction shows greater efficiency compared to cryodestruction. Laser removal is less painful and is more likely to guarantee the desired result.
Removes radio waves.
This method of destruction is performed using a special apparatus that acts on the papilloma via radio waves. This enhances the excision of the accumulation due to the sharp effect of the radio knife. The precision of the procedure is very high, so the adjacent tissues are not affected. However, the risk of burns or infection is extremely low.
This method is suitable for removing small benign lesions. It is extremely effective, which makes it as popular as laser destruction. Both methods are considered modern approaches to papilloma removal and are equally well used in medicine.
Electrocoagulation.
This method is based on the action of a high-frequency electric current acting on the papilla directly at the site of the lesion. Electrocoagulation is now considered a common but outdated method. This method allows you to prevent bleeding after papilloma removal by burning the veins.
However, when using high frequency current, patients feel pain that occurs even after anesthesia. This forces some patients to abandon electrocautery, opting for laser removal as a more advanced and painless method.
Estimated cost
The price range depends not only on the region and clinic in which the removal is performed, but also on the number, size and location of the removed growths.
In many clinics there is a discount for the removal of neoplasms in bulk: the more the patient has, the cheaper it will be to remove one growth.
Getting rid of growths in the genital area can be significantly more expensive than in other parts of the body. Moreover, not every clinic provides such a service due to the complexity of such manipulation.