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HISTORY: LASER technique in medical practices is not recent. For example LASER treatments have been in practice for quite a number of years now in Ophthalmology, in Gynaecology, in Dermatology, in various Surgical procedures as well as in Urology.
But actually, what is this famous beam that frightens more than it reassures?
Its first appearance dates back to 1960, and LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. (Stimulated as opposed to sun light which is spontaneous.)
The focal point of this particular light lies firstly in its faculty to focus and concentrate in small volumes a great mass of power, and secondly in allowing this energy the possibility of being activated for very short time spans.
This is why LASER can be used in the same way as a scalpel for it incises by burning the tissues. For example, it allows the surgeon to operate on a highly vascular liver without causing any bleeding.
INDICATIONS: It can be used in a full facial treatment (full face) or for treating specific areas such as the eyelids, the crows’ feet, and the lines around the lips. Depending on the kind of wrinkle, the LASER might need to go over more than once.
PROCEDURE: The LASERS that are used during Plastic Surgery activate the body’s natural collagen fibres. This relatively unknown phenomenon though very real, is that through synthesis the natural collagen and elastic fibres are stimulated and fill the wrinkles. Nowadays, a vitamin A based cream is prescribed one month prior to the treatment. The LASER beam used in Plastic Surgery has the particularity of being continuous, with impulses that are inferior to the diffusion of heat in the tissues. This effectively prevents carbonisation and burning for, as the tissues evaporate, bleeding is avoided.
POST-OPERATIVE: The skin is slightly red around the area that has been treated with some small scabs that can last from 4 to 6 days. The skin will slowly turn pink and remain so for a few weeks. This can also last 3 to 4 months.
However, the patient may use a Cover Mark cream that effectively hides the colour difference as from the first week following the LASER treatment.
During this first week, Vaseline or a multi perforated dressing must be used on which different substances are applied and thus allow the skin to heal and slowly reduce the reddish-pink skin colour.
RISKS: In case of cold sore (Herpes) a treatment before and after the procedure must be followed. In presence of an infection, an antibiotic is advisable as preventive measure. There may also be lightning or darkening of the skin.
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