Monday, August 10, 2015

Laser Treatments Somerville: Merits And Demerits

By Olive Pate


Ever since the discovery of anesthesia, surgery and other such modes of treatments underwent a revolution. The scalpel is the most commonly used surgical tool until a few years ago. However, it is invasive, prone to human error and is likely to cause infections, severe pain and intensive bleeding. Laser treatments Somerville have come up as an alternative to the traditional surgical options.

To start with, laser is basically light, and its an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Its a special kind of light that is capable of cutting tissues during an operation just like a scalpel would. Since it is tuned to a very specific wavelength, its capable of producing extremely powerful beams. So powerful that they cut steel or shape diamonds.

In medicine, the special and unique light enables surgeons to work precisely and concisely. They focus it on a small area of tissue which means that there is less damage to the surrounding tissue compared to the scalpel. Patients who undergo laser treatments generally experience less swelling, scarring and pain compared to the traditional surgical options.

Laser offers help in many types of procedures. It can be used in shrinking or destroying tumors and precancerous growths anywhere in the body. Additionally, it can also remove kidney stones or repair a detached retina. In fact, it is widely used to improve vision in many patients with different disorders of the eye such as near-sightedness.

Sealing is an important medical procedure used to reconnect or close vessels. Laser becomes very helpful during such procedures. For instance, it has been known to be effective in reducing the spread of tumors usually in lymph vessels when sealing. In such a case, it also helps reduce swelling. Sealing of blood vessels helps to stop excessive blood loss. For patients who have undergone surgery resulting to severing of nerves, it helps seal the nerve endings and reduce pain.

In the cosmetic industry, the special, unique light has found numerous applications. It is used to clear blemishes on the skin and mucosal surfaces. It can remove warts, birthmarks, sun spots and also moles. Instead of constantly shaving, most people prefer using the light to remove all unnecessary or unwanted hair within a single procedure. It can also be used to remove tattoos and make wrinkles, scars and blemishes less apparent.

Laser has associated risks, just like any other treatment option. It may cause bleeding and subsequent infection in some patients. It may also cause pain and scarring. Other patients experience skin color changes. In rare cases, it may trigger the herpes simplex virus. Some patients may not be treated within one instance. When there are repeat treatments, the risks may become even more for the patient.

Another risk is that of general anesthesia that some patients have to be under for the surgery to take place. It is also expensive for most patients. On the other hand, it is precise and causes less damage compared to the scalpel. Lastly, it takes only a short time.




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