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The word LASER stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Medical lasers use an intense beam of light to gently remove unwanted, damaged, or diseased cells
without harming the surrounding healthy cells. Depending on the treatment and the type of laser
used, its energy may either be delivered as a continuous wave of light or in pulses.
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Blemishes caused from abnormal blood vessels located directly under your skin's surface that give
the skin a red color are called vascular lesions. Port Wine stains, strawberry hemangiomas,
and spider veins (telangiectasias) are all forms of vascular lesions.
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Pigmented lesions are caused by an increase of melanocytes in the skin. Melanocytes are the cells
that manufacture melanin, which is the dark pigment in skin. Most of us have some form of
pigmented lesion which includes brown age spots (lentigines), freckles (ephileds), and moles
(nevi). Lesions without color are called non-pigmented lesions and include warts and skin tags.
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Lasers have been used successfully in hundreds of thousands of treatments. Performed properly and
by a trained physician, laser treatments are safe and effective. There are many benefits to laser
surgery including little (if any) pain, no needles for most patients, less bruising and swelling
and once removed, lesions do not return.
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Some patients say they feel a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band on the skin, followed
by the feeling of sunburn. Many treatments do not require anesthetics however, some patients feel
more comfortable with a local numbing agent like ice or an anesthetic cream. For others, a local
anesthetic injection may be beneficial.
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Other skin conditions treated with lasers include: aging and sun-damaged skin, tattoos, moles,
warts, skin tags, stretch marks, acne, and hypertrophic scars.
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This depends on the size, location, depth and color of your lesion. Spider veins on the face and
age spots generally do well with one or two treatments, while darker or deeper birthmarks may
require additional treatments. Port Wine stains and hemangiomas usually experience satisfactory
results from laser treatments however, as many as six to eight treatment sessions may be
required. Treatments should be placed 4 to 8 weeks apart to allow your body to remove the
maximum amount of pigment cells. After each treatment, you will continue to notice a
lightening of your lesion as your body rids itself of the pigment cells.
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Most patients will see a dramatic improvement in their vascular and pigmented lesions however,
as with any surgical procedure, there is always a possibility that only minor changes will occur
and in rare cases there is no response.
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