Removal of neoplasms with a laser is a very common and effective procedure that helps to get rid of unwanted growths. This is a relatively new method, which appeared in the medical arsenal not so long ago, but it has already managed to prove its advantage over other methods of removal. The precursors of laser destruction were removal using liquid nitrogen, electricity, or a scalpel. All this could cause considerable discomfort to the patient, while laser removal shows high results with painless interventions.
Why remove
Papillomas, which are growths of various shapes and sizes, are generally benign neoplasms. They are localized on the wearer's mucous membranes or on his skin. The main reason for their appearance is the action of the human papillomavirus, in most cases sexually transmitted.
The removal of these accumulations performs several activities at the same time:
- Aesthetic correction.A patient with growths may feel uncomfortable with excessive attention from others. For this reason, a person may feel insecure and uncomfortable, even if growth does not pose a danger to him.
- Accident prevention.If the growth is in a traumatic spot where the patient constantly touches it, this can lead to the separation of the protruding part. Also, when trying to cover the papilloma with clothes, there may be a problem such as rubbing the affected area. This is fraught with papilloma lesions and possible subsequent infection. Damage can lead to the penetration of microbes, which can cause inflammation in the wound. If this happens, the damaged area should be treated with peroxide and immediately go to the clinic to remove the remaining part of the papilloma.
- Reduce the risk of cancer.Despite the fact that the growths are benign in nature, there is such a variety of manifestations as condylomas. 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 the growths by yourself. Any attempts to tie a papilloma with a thread, a comb, apply some kind of chemical agent on it can worsen its condition.
Advantages of the procedure
Laser destruction has several advantages over other removal methods.These include:
- Guaranteed result.Thanks to the action of the laser, the growth is completely removed, leaving nothing even in the deep subcutaneous layers. The device is able to penetrate deep enough to clean all traces of the presence of a neoplasm.
- Painless.Exposure to the laser gives the patient minimal pain. If preliminary anesthesia with local anesthetics is added to the procedure, there is no pain.
- Speed of the procedure. Removal of papillomas with a laser takes 2 to 5 minutes per element.
- Non-invasive.The laser beam is located in a strictly limited area and does not go beyond. In this case, more than one part of the laser does not touch the site of the procedure. This is very important, as this method helps to minimize the risk of infection and offers a high guarantee of sterility.
- No postoperative scar.If the job is done correctly, there should be no trace of the laser action at the exposure site. This is due to the fact that the affected tissue has completely evaporated and then a new intact skin takes its place.
- Bloodless way to eliminate.The laser beam heats the capillaries supplying blood, rapidly sealing the walls. As a result, the bleeding stops and does not resume after surgery.
- Suitable for different parts of the body.Not all removal methods can be used on every part of the body. The intimate places, the eyelids, etc. They are considered to be particularly sensitive. Laser destruction does a good job of treating growths in these areas thanks to the precision of the laser beam.
All these factors make laser removal one of the most requested procedures for eliminating growths.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for this procedure is not as long as for other methods of destruction.Among the prohibitions of laser removal:
- diabetes mellitus;
- oncology;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- epilepsy;
- diseases associated with problems of the endocrine system;
- poor blood clotting;
- HIV or AIDS;
- acute inflammatory diseases.
In addition, patients who have recently had flu or acute respiratory infections should also postpone the procedure for some time.
Description of the procedure
Before starting any procedure to remove the growths, the doctor will disinfect the area to be operated on. In some cases, local anesthetic pain relief is used. Typically, an ointment or spray is used for this. After applying the anesthetic drug, 2-3 minutes pass and the removal process begins.
The laser beam is directed towards the affected area and, as it were, cauterizes the unwanted growth. At this time, the contents of the cells are evaporated 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 the papilloma, for example, on the eyelid, is the same. The only nuance of this area is that a special cooling method is used for the patient to prevent pain and burns in this sensitive spot.
Neoplasms in intimate places are removed according to the same principle. But here the doctor usually uses an anesthetic injection as an anesthetic, injecting the growth from different sides.
The very moment of inserting the needle can be somewhat painful, but after a couple of minutes the sensitivity in the area of influence 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 work of the laser. After removing the buildup, the doctor treats the affected area with potassium permanganate.
After the procedure, the patient may experience slight redness, itching, or mild pain at the site of papilloma removal.
This reaction is considered normal, since, despite the non-invasiveness of the procedure, an intervention on the integrity of the skin took place during the operation.All discomfort should completely disappear 2-4 days after the procedure.
A dry scab subsequently appears on the wound. Underneath is a layer of already healthy skin, so its protective shell cannot be torn off until it falls off on its own. Otherwise, a scar may remain on the skin and the recovery process itself may take longer.
Consequences
Complications after laser destruction are rare. As a rule, their presence is associated with diseases that the patient already has, which he did not cure before the procedure. So, for example, if the patient has skin inflammation, it can contribute to the appearance of pigmentation. If the skin itself is very sensitive, there may be a slight redness associated with a burn. With a high allergic reaction, edema may occur at the site of exposure.
To exclude all undesirable consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor before carrying out laser destruction.
Attention after the procedure
After removing the accumulation, the patient must follow the following rules:
- do not allow water to enter the wound for 2-3 days;
- refrain from visiting saunas, baths 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 scrubs, lotions that contain alcohol;
- avoids exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Several times a day, it is necessary to carry out an antiseptic treatment of the wound. This must be done until the moment when the crust is separated. This treatment should prevent infection and help speed up the time to complete healing.For the treatment of the damaged area, you can take iodine or a solution of potassium permanganate.
After the removal site can be treated with anti-inflammatory ointments.
Their action is aimed at accelerating tissue regeneration, relieving inflammation and edema. Before choosing a specific remedy, 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 too, among which stand out:
Cryodestruction.
Based on the removal of papillomas with liquid nitrogen. Due to exposure to low temperatures, the buildup begins to collapse and eventually disappears altogether. The method is effective, but it has several disadvantages. Among these is the impossibility of complete control over the depth of action of nitrogen. The substance can pass very deeply, touching a healthy area, or vice versa, affecting only superficially, without affecting all the localization layers of the accumulation.
Furthermore, this method is characterized by:
- the possibility of postoperative scarring;
- painful sensations;
- inability to guarantee the result after the first procedure.
Therefore, laser destruction shows higher efficiency than cryodestruction. Removal with a laser is less painful and more likely to deliver the desired result.
Removal of radio waves.
This method of destruction is performed using a special apparatus that acts on the papilloma through radio waves. This favors the excision of the accumulation due to the point effect of the radio blade. The accuracy of the procedure is very high, so that adjacent tissues are not affected. However, the risk of burns or infections is extremely low.
This method is suitable for removing small benign lesions. It is highly efficient, which makes it as popular as laser destruction. Both methods are considered modern approaches to remove papillomas and are equally well used in medicine.
Electrocoagulation.
This method is based on the action of a high frequency electric current acting on the papilloma directly at the lesion site. Electrocoagulation is now considered a common but obsolete method. This method allows you to prevent bleeding after removing the papilloma by burning the vessels.
However, when using high frequency current, patients experience pain that appears even after anesthesia. This causes some patients to abandon electrocautery, opting for laser removal as the more advanced and painless method.
Estimated cost
The price range depends not only on the region and clinic where 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 block neoplasms: the more a patient has, the cheaper it will be to remove a growth.
Getting rid of a growth in the genital area can be significantly more expensive than in other parts of the body. Moreover, not all clinics provide such a service due to the complexity of such manipulation.