In-office procedure; consultation required

Introduction

Although lasers have been present in medical practice for several years, recent technological improvements have greatly improved both their safety and efficacy. The energy and wavelength of the laser beam can be precisely controlled allowing us to target very specific lesions with little or no damage to the surrounding skin.
We can now treat vascular lesions such as hemangiomas, telangiectasias, cherry angiomas, and port wine stains.

Telangiectasia are numerous tiny blood vessels on the surface of the skin. They can give the appearance of persistent redness of the face. The development of telangiectasia is related to acne rosacea, sun damage, and the aging process.

Hemangiomas are abnormally dense collections of small blood vessels (capillaries) that may occur anywhere on the skin. They are red to reddish-purple, raised lesion on the skin.

Cherry angiomas are non-cancerous skin growths that appear as a small, smooth, cherry red bump. Port-wine stains are birthmarks that are pink-red at birth and become a darker red-purple color. Port-wine stains are formed by blood vessels that did not develop properly. They can be small or can cover a large area of the body.

The laser can also be used to eradicate lesions such as solar lentigines and café au-lait spots. Café au-lait spots are smooth, generally oval birthmarks. They range in color from light brown to chocolate brown and are usually found on the torso, buttocks, and legs. Lentigo are often called "age spots" or "liver spots" but are actually directly related to sun exposure. A lentigo is a small brownish spot (of the pigment melanin) on the skin.

Selective lasers can also be very effective in removing tattoos and unwanted hair, although both tattoo and hair removal generally require multiple treatments. Certain lasers can be effective for the treatment of pigmented and thickened scars, and can also significantly improve fine wrinkles surrounding the mouth and eye areas.
If you are considering laser therapy, we will first offer you educational materials to help you make a more informed decision regarding this procedure. There are several important considerations and it is vital that you fully understand these prior to making your decision. If you elect to proceed, we will perform a detailed skin examination and then discuss your desires and expectations in detail. Finally, we will discuss all of your various choices and together, we will select the laser devise and treatment option that will provide you with the greatest benefit.