5 of the latest medical treatments using lasers

admin    Laser Surgery    

Lasers have revolutionised the way many different treatments and procedures are carried out and their influence looks set to continue growing in the field of medicine. Lasers are involved in many procedures and treatments, from varicose veins treatment to hair removal.

Cancer treatment

Lasers have been used to treat some cases of cancer and they are becoming an increasingly effective and important tool in the treatment and management of cancer. The most common use for lasers is photodynamic therapy, which is predominantly used in the treatment of skin cancer, but can also be used for tumours in the brain. Photodynamic therapy involves using lasers to activate cancer drugs, which then destroy the mutant cells. Unlike chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy does not cause unpleasant side-effects and the procedure can be repeated, unlike radiotherapy.

Lasers also play a very important role in the diagnosis of cancer. By using lasers, doctors are able to detect changes in the body, which can facilitate early diagnosis, increasing survival rates significantly. Lasers can also help to enable doctors to find the best possible treatments for individual patients by using a technique known as laser imaging, which is a great deal more effective than prescribing ‘one size fits all’ cancer drugs.

Laser eye surgery

Laser eye surgery is an unbelievable modernism which uses lasers to correct problems with vision. Laser eye surgery is one of the most popular treatments in the UK and it is approximated that around 100,000 treatment are done in the UK every year. Laser eye surgery can enable people who have previously had difficulty seeing, to see clearly without having to rely on glasses or contact lenses.

Dermatology

Lasers are commonly used to treat dermatological conditions, as well as being used to remove hair and tattoos and to reduce the visibility of stretch marks, acne scars and birthmarks.

Cosmetic treatments

Cosmetic surgery is constantly growing in popular and more and more are choosing to have surgical or non-surgical cosmetic treatments every year in the UK. The aim of cosmetic treatment is to improve and enhance the client’s look, which may involve making their skin look younger, changing the shape of their nose to make it look more attractive, enhancing their smile or increasing the size of their bust. The range of cosmetic treatments available now is vast and lasers are playing an increasingly important role.

Lasers are used in the following procedures:

• facial rejuvenation
• skin tightening
• laser tooth whitening
• snoring treatment
• removal of tattoos, scars and moles