Patient Education - Lung Cancer Program at UCLA
yourself about lung cancer:
Laser surgery uses a laser light source to remove diseased tissues or treat bleeding
blood vessels. The laser may also be used for cosmetic purposes, including removal of wrinkles,
tattoos, or birthmarks.
Surgery using laser
A laser is a light beam that can be precisely focused. It is used to treat tissues by
heating the targeted cells until they "burst."
There are several types of lasers, including the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, the YAG (yttrium
aluminum garnet) laser, and the pulsed dye laser. Each laser has specific uses. The color
of the light beam used is directly related to the type of surgery being performed and the
color of the tissue being treated.
Why the Procedure is Performed
- Laser surgery can be used to:
- Remove tumors (brain, liver)
- With minimal damage to surrounding healthy tissue
- With minimal scarring
- Seal small blood vessels to reduce blood loss
- Seal lymph vessels to reduce swelling and decrease the spread of tumor cells
- Seal nerve endings to reduce postoperative pain
- Remove warts, moles, and tattoos
- Reduce the appearance of skin wrinkles, scars, and other skin blemishes
- Remove hair
As with any type of surgery, laser surgery is not without risks. Possible problems include
incomplete treatment of the problem, pain, infection, bleeding, scarring, and skin color
Some laser surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Be sure to discuss the risks
of general anesthesia with your anesthesiologist.
Your outcome and recovery period will vary significantly, depending on the condition
being treated. Always consult your health care provider about your prognosis and recovery
period before surgery.
The amount of time it takes to recover from surgery depends on the surgery and on the
individual. Based on an evaluation of your health status prior to surgery, your health care
provider can give you a good estimate of the recovery time.
Review Date: 10/16/2006
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Associate, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta,
GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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