Warts are not only a cosmetic defect, but also a sign that the body is infected with HPV and requires treatment. There are several ways to remove neoplasms, but the most popular is laser papilloma removal. This method is considered one of the safest, it allows you to quickly remove the papilloma, and after removal complications almost never occur. But the laser is not a panacea and is not suitable for everyone. Let's take a look at how laser therapy is performed and familiarize ourselves with the pros and cons of the process.
What is laser therapy
Laser therapy involves exposing a neoplasm to a beam of light with a specific wavelength. When removing papillomas, the following events occur:
- moisture evaporates from the cells of the neoplasm;
- the cell structure begins to deteriorate.
The light beam, destroying the wart, almost does not injure the epidermis. The operation is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
The advantages of the technique
Specialists, choosing a method of removing the papilloma, prefer a laser. Consider the main advantages of laser surgery:
- Low rate of injuries. The depth of the beam is selected individually, and when exposed, only the wart is removed without damaging the deeper layers of the epidermis.
- Absence of blood. The light beam causes coagulation (adhesion of the walls) of the vessels supplying the neoplasm, so there is no bleeding during the procedure.
- Low risk of infection. Due to the fact that the vessels "stick together", the likelihood of infection of the resulting wound is minimal.
- The ability to remove papilloma anywhere in the human body.
- Absence of postoperative scars. Subject to medical recommendations for skin care, no traces remain at the site of laser exposure. This helps get rid of papillomas on the neck, face and other exposed parts of the body without the risk of nasty scars.
- Short rehabilitation period. The intervention trail heals within a week.
- The ability to remove neoplasms of any size. The size of the wart does not matter with laser therapy.
- Relatively painless. During the action of the light beam, most patients feel only heat, pain is noted only in people with increased sensitivity. To eliminate pain or discomfort, removal is done under local anesthesia.
- Security. It is allowed to remove papillomas even in childhood.
Despite the fact that laser removal has advantages over other methods, and it is carried out in many beauty salons, it is necessary to consult a doctor before removing the training.
The need for consultation is to distinguish papillomas from other neoplasms and to identify possible contraindications.
Possible disadvantages and contraindications
Despite the safety, laser removal of warty growths has several drawbacks:
- Formation of scars. This complication develops in people with a low capacity for tissue regeneration. Scars at the site of a removed wart are rare.
- Accession of a secondary infection. Poor wound care after laser removal leads to infection of the wound surface, which is accompanied by edema or suppuration.
- Allergy. There are no allergic manifestations to the laser, but a reaction to the anesthesia may develop. The manifestations can be different: from local hyperemia and edema to anaphylactic shock.
- High price. For neoplasms caused by the HPV virus, laser removal pays off, and the cost depends on the size of the wart and the number of formations.
- Inability to conduct a cytological study. With laser exposure, the cells of the wart formation are completely destroyed, and if tissue degeneration is suspected, it is necessary to study the removed papilloma.
In addition to the possible negative consequences of withdrawal, there are absolute contraindications:
- endocrine disturbances (thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, etc. );
- infectious and inflammatory processes of the skin at the site of localization of the growth;
- acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- recent prolonged exposure to the sun or a stay in the solarium (2 weeks should elapse from the time you get a tan);
- oncological processes;
- Pregnancy and breast feeding.
Before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient, determines the possible complications after the removal of the papilloma and the presence of contraindications. Seeing a doctor helps reduce the risk of complications.
What papillomas can be removed with a laser
Is it dangerous to remove papillomas with a laser? Only the doctor will respond after examining the patient. Almost all types of warts can be removed by laser destruction.
Laser therapy is indicated for the following types of wart formations:
- vulgar;
- condylomas;
- thorns;
- apartment;
- filiform;
- on a thin leg.
A contraindication to the use of laser therapy is the suspicion of pathological tissue degeneration and cytological examination is required. In this case, the sample is taken in a different way, which makes it possible to keep the biomaterial for analysis.
Types of machines
There are several types of material to remove papillomas:
- Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing Laser). It is considered one of the safest, equipped with a beam adjustment function, which allows you to accurately calculate the depth of penetration into the tissue.
- Sciton integrated into the laser platform. The new technology makes it possible to warm the deep layers of the epidermis, by eliminating skin cells damaged by the papillomavirus. In addition to removing warts, the device is used for cosmetic procedures.
- SmartXide DOT (Italy). It has a sparing effect on the epidermis and is used not only to remove warty growths, but also to rejuvenate the skin (during the process of "removing" the top layer of keratinized epithelium).
Doctors qualitatively remove papillomas with one of the described devices, using laser beams as an alternative to the surgical scalpel.
Laser destruction is considered one of the least traumatic methods of removing 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 identify contraindications.
The type of equipment purchased depends on the profile of the clinic (additional provision of cosmetic services) and the financial capacity of the institution (devices differ in cost).
Preparation of the procedure
Laser removal of papilloma does not require specialized training. But before you start the procedure, it is recommended:
- Determine the HPV strain. Some of the papillomaviruses are dangerous carcinogens.
- Show a warty formation 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 necessary, which cannot be done after laser removal.
On the day of the procedure, you should clean the site of the wart localization and refrain from drinking alcohol.
How is laser removal performed?
Laser destruction can be conditionally divided into several stages:
- antiseptic treatment of the skin surface;
- injection of a local anesthetic (if necessary);
- Layer-by-layer laser evaporation of the papilloma.
Skin neoplasms are eliminated in a short time (from a few seconds to several minutes) and usually no further treatment is necessary.
Several treatments may be necessary only if the tumor is large. In this case, in order to reduce trauma to the epithelium, layer-by-layer removal of the wart is carried out for several days.
How to treat sores after removing papillomas
To avoid complications after the removal of the papilloma, doctors give the following recommendations:
- What to treat. It is necessary to use healing ointments or gels and wipe the postoperative wound with a weak manganese solution or calendula tincture. With poor cell regeneration, you need to 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 peel off the crust formed on the removal site or to injure the wound. The scab will fall off on its own after the regeneration process is completed, and in order to avoid injury when rubbing with clothes, it is recommended to paste the place where the wart is removed with a bactericidal bandage. But you don't have to constantly walk with the bandage - the wound needs access to air for complete healing.
After laser papilloma removal, care is easy: it is enough not to injure the wound surface, and to regularly treat it with healing agents. At the risk of complications related to the formation of scars, the doctor gives special recommendations on how to take care of the wound after the procedure.
Rehabilitation period
Despite the fact that the recovery period after laser destruction is short, it is important to follow all the recommendations given by the doctor after laser removal of papillomas.
Usually, scarring of the laser-treated skin surface occurs one week after the procedure. To prevent the appearance of scars and scars, it is necessary to use the recommended drugs and not to try to peel off the formed scab.
In most patients, the scabs go away after 7-10 days, and with the destruction of large warty formations it may take longer. After the crust falls, a pink and smooth epidermis is visible at the site of elimination, which gradually takes on a normal color.
Is it painful to remove a papilloma with a laser
Most patients fear 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 instead of laser action;
- Suspected patients or people with hypersensitivity of the skin undergo laser ablation under local anesthesia.
The time of removal is short (maximum - a few minutes), and only slight discomfort is felt at the site of the removed wart, which disappears in the first days after destruction.
How much is the service in clinics
The cost of removing papillomas depends on the following:
- the reputation of the clinic;
- on what parts of the body are warts (for the face and genitals, a "special approach" is necessary);
- size, as well as other factors.