Removing neoplasms with a laser is a very common and effective procedure that helps get rid of unwanted growths. This is a relatively new method, which appeared in the medical arsenal not so long ago, but has already managed to prove its advantage over other methods of elimination. The precursors of laser destruction were elimination using liquid nitrogen, electricity or a scalpel. All of this could cause considerable discomfort to the patient, while laser removal gives high results with painless intervention.
Why delete
Papillomas, which are growths of different shapes and sizes, are usually 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.
Removing these build-ups performs several tasks at once:
- Cosmetic correction.A patient with growths may be uncomfortable with excessive attention from others. Because of this, a person may feel anxious and uncomfortable even though the growth is not dangerous for them.
- Injury prevention.If the growth is in a traumatic place where the patient constantly touches it, it can lead to the separation of the protruding part. Also, when trying to cover the papilloma with clothes, there may be some problem such as rubbing the affected area. This is fraught with papilloma lesions and possible subsequent infection. The damage can lead to the entry of germs, which can cause inflammation of 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 mild in nature, there is such a variety of manifestations as warts. They are usually located in intimate places and pose a great danger in terms of the development of cancer. To prevent the disease, all warts must be removed.
Do not remove the build up yourself. Any attempt to tie a papilloma with a thread, comb, apply some kind of chemical agent on it can make its condition worse.
Advantages of the procedure
Laser destruction has several advantages over other disposal methods.These include:
- Guaranteed result.Thanks to the action of the laser, the outgrowth is completely removed, leaving nothing even in the deep subcutaneous layers. The device is able to penetrate deep enough to remove any evidence of the presence of a neoplasm.
- Painless.Laser exposure gives the patient minimal pain. If you add preliminary anesthesia with local anesthetics to the procedure, there is no pain.
- Speed of the procedure. Removal of papillomas with a laser requires 2-5 minutes per item.
- Non-invasiveness.The laser beam is 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 minimizes the risk of infection and offers a high guarantee of sterility.
- No postoperative scars.If the work is done correctly, there should be no trace of the action of the laser at the exposure site. This is because the affected tissue is completely evaporated, and then new, intact skin takes its place.
- A bloodless way to delete.The laser beam heats the capillaries supplying blood, quickly sealing their 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 all parts of the body. Intimate places, eyelids, etc. are considered particularly sensitive. Laser destruction does a good job of managing the growths in these areas because of the precision of the laser beam.
All of these factors make laser removal one of the most popular procedures to get rid of growths.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for this procedure is not as long as for other destruction methods.Among the laser removal bans:
- 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.
Additionally, patients who have recently had influenza or acute respiratory infections should also postpone the procedure for a while.
Description of the procedure
Before beginning any procedure to remove growths, the doctor will disinfect the area to be operated on. In some cases, a local anesthetic pain reliever is used. As a rule, an ointment or spray is used for this. After applying the anesthetic drug, 2-3 minutes pass and the withdrawal process begins.
The laser beam is directed at the affected area and, so to speak, 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 doesn't just happen in easily accessible places in open spaces. The procedure for removing papilloma, for example, on the eyelid, is the same. The only nuance in this area is that a special cooling method is used for the patient to prevent pain and burning at this sensitive point.
Neoplasms in intimate places are removed by the same principle. But here the doctor usually uses an anesthetic injection as the anesthetic, injecting the growth from different sides.
The very moment of inserting the needle may be somewhat painful, but after a few minutes the tenderness in the affected area disappears completely and subsequent manipulations are completely painless.
The affected area turns into a small wound without blood. At the time of destruction, it is disinfected thanks 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 slight pain at the site of the papilloma removal.
This reaction is considered normal, because, despite the non-invasive nature of the procedure, during the operation there was interference with the integrity of the skin.Any discomfort should go away completely 2-4 days after the procedure.
A dry crust later appears on the wound. Underneath is an already healthy layer of skin, so its protective shell cannot be torn 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 treat before the procedure. So, for example, if the patient had skin inflammation, it may contribute to the appearance of pigmentation. If the skin itself is very sensitive, there may be a slight redness associated with a burn. With an elevated 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.
Post-procedure care
After removing the accumulation, the patient should adhere to the following rules:
- do not let water get into 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 an adhesive bandage on the wound;
- do not treat the papilloma removal site with scrubs, lotions containing alcohol;
- avoid exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Several times a day it is necessary to carry out antiseptic treatment of the wound. This should be done until the time 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 removal of the 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 method to deal with unwanted growth. There are also other ways, among which stand out:
Cryodestruction.
Based on the removal of papillomas with liquid nitrogen. Due to exposure to low temperatures, the build-up begins to collapse and eventually disappears completely. The method is effective, but has several drawbacks. Among them, the inability to fully control 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 layers of localization of the accumulation.
In addition, this method is characterized by:
- the possibility of postoperative scars;
- painful sensations;
- inability to guarantee the result after the first procedure.
Thus, laser destruction shows greater efficiency compared to cryodestruction. Laser removal is less painful and more likely to guarantee the desired result.
Suppression of radio waves.
This method of destruction is carried out using a special device that acts on the papilloma by radio waves. This promotes excision of the buildup due to the tip effect of the radio knife. The precision of the procedure is very high, so that 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 very efficient, which makes it as popular as laser destruction. Both methods are considered modern approaches to removing papillomas and are also 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 site of the lesion. Electrocoagulation is now considered a common but outdated method. This method allows you to avoid bleeding after removing the papilloma by burning the vessels.
However, when using high frequency current, patients experience pain which appears even after anesthesia. This causes 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 growths removed.
In many clinics there is a cutback for removing new loose growths: the more a patient has, the less economical it will be to remove a growth.
Getting rid of a growth in the genital area can be much more expensive than in other parts of the body. In addition, not all clinics provide such a service due to the complexity of such manipulation.