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The Science of Photomedicine

Laser surgery brings together advanced physics and medical skill. It uses focused light to treat many medical and cosmetic conditions with more precision than traditional scalpel surgery. The word laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Surgeons utilize this technology to target specific tissues while leaving surrounding structures unharmed. This capability allows for the treatment of microscopic structures, such as individual blood vessels or pigment clusters, without making an incision. It is a discipline defined by control, efficacy, and the preservation of healthy tissue.

  • Utilization of monochromatic light beams
  • Amplification of energy for tissue interaction
  • Preservation of surrounding healthy structures
  • Microscopic precision in tissue targeting
  • Minimization of mechanical trauma to the body
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Selective Photothermolysis

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The main idea behind laser surgery is called selective photothermolysis. This means a certain light wavelength is chosen to target a specific chromophore, or light-absorbing part, in the tissue. The three main chromophores in the body are water, melanin (pigment), and hemoglobin (blood).

When the laser wavelength matches the target’s absorption peak, only that structure absorbs the energy. The energy turns into heat and destroys the target, while nearby tissue that does not absorb that wavelength stays safe. This selectivity helps prevent scarring and keeps the procedure safe.

  • Identification of specific tissue chromophores
  • Matching wavelength to absorption coefficients
  • Conversion of optical energy into thermal energy
  • Thermal destruction of the target lesion
  • Sparing of adjacent non-target tissues
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Ablative Laser Resurfacing

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Ablative lasers are the most powerful type used in laser surgery. The main ones, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Er: YAG lasers, target the water in skin cells. Since skin cells are mostly water, the laser energy quickly vaporizes the tissue when it touches the skin.

This controlled vaporization removes the top layer of skin and part of the layer beneath it. The body treats this as an injury and starts a strong healing process. This leads to quick production of new collagen and the growth of a fresh, smoother skin layer. It is considered the best method for treating deep wrinkles and major scars.

  • Vaporization of intracellular water molecules
  • Removal of the epidermal and dermal layers
  • Stimulation of a profound healing cascade
  • Induction of significant neocollagenesis
  • Treatment of deep structural skin defects

Non-Ablative Laser Therapy

Non-ablative lasers provide a gentler way to remodel tissue. They pass through the top layer of skin without breaking it. The heat goes straight to the deeper layer, causing controlled damage to collagen fibers without vaporizing the skin’s surface.

This heat makes the body repair the damaged collagen and create new fibers, which tightens the skin and improves its texture. Since the surface of the skin is not broken, recovery is much faster than with ablative treatments. Pulsed-dye and Nd: YAG lasers are examples of non-ablative lasers.

  • Transmission of energy through the epidermis
  • Controlled heating of the dermal layers
  • Preservation of the stratum corneum barrier
  • Stimulation of fibroblast activity
  • Minimal downtime and rapid social recovery
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Fractional Photothermolysis

Fractional laser technology changed the field by combining the strong results of ablative lasers with the safety of non-ablative ones. Instead of treating all the skin at once, the laser makes thousands of tiny thermal columns, called microthermal treatment zones (MTZs).

These columns go deep into the skin, but healthy, untreated tissue remains between them. This healthy tissue helps the treated areas heal quickly. The technique lowers the risk of scarring and infection while still giving strong results.

  • Creation of microscopic thermal columns
  • Preservation of untreated tissue bridges
  • Rapid re-epithelialization from surrounding cells
  • Deep dermal penetration for remodeling
  • Significant reduction in recovery timelines

Pulse Duration and Thermal Relaxation Time

  • The length of the laser pulse is as important as the wavelength. To destroy the target without harming nearby tissue, the energy must be delivered in a pulse shorter than the target’s thermal relaxation time. This is how long it takes for the target to cool by half.

    If the pulse is too long, heat spreads out from the target and can damage healthy tissue nearby. Surgeons carefully adjust the pulse length to keep the heat focused on the target, whether it is a hair follicle, blood vessel, or tattoo particle.

    • Calculation of target thermal relaxation time
    • Confinement of thermal energy to the target
    • Prevention of lateral heat spread
    • Optimization of pulse width settings
    • Minimization of collateral tissue damage

The Spectrum of Light

  • Medical lasers use a wide range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to infrared. Each part of this range affects tissue in a different way. Visible light lasers are often used for blood vessels and pigment problems, while infrared lasers are used for skin resurfacing and collagen growth.

    Knowing how the spectrum works helps surgeons choose the right laser for each problem. For example, green light is absorbed well by red blood cells, so it is good for treating veins. Infrared light is absorbed by water, so it works well for cutting or vaporizing tissue.

    • Application of visible light for pigment and vessels
    • Use of infrared light for water absorption
    • Utilization of ultraviolet light for specific skin diseases
    • Selection of specific nanometer wavelengths
    • Customization of treatment based on physics

Laser-Tissue Interactions

  • When laser light hits tissue, four things can happen: absorption, reflection, transmission, and scattering. Absorption is what we want for treatment. Reflection and transmission do not affect the tissue. Scattering makes the light spread out inside the tissue.

    Surgeons have to consider scattering because it can weaken the laser beam at the target depth. They adjust the size of the laser spot and the energy level to make sure enough energy reaches the right depth for the treatment to work.

    • Maximization of photon absorption
    • Minimization of surface reflection
    • Compensation for tissue scattering
    • Control of depth of penetration
    • Achievement of precise clinical endpoints

Safety and Classification

  • Medical lasers are powerful and are classified based on how dangerous they can be. Class 4 lasers, which are used in surgery, can cause permanent eye damage and burn skin right away. Strict safety rules are a key part of laser surgery.

    This means everyone in the room must wear protective eyewear made for the laser’s wavelength, cover reflective surfaces, and use smoke evacuators to remove the vapor from tissue. Safety is the foundation of the surgical environment.

    • Mandatory use of protective eyewear
    • Management of laser plume and smoke
    • Control of reflective surfaces in the OR
    • Strict adherence to device classifications
    • Implementation of fire safety protocols

The Evolution of Laser Delivery Systems

  • Early lasers gave off continuous beams that were hard to control. Modern systems use advanced methods, like scanners that move the laser over the skin in computer-controlled patterns to spread the energy evenly.

    Q-switched and picosecond lasers send out energy in very short bursts, measured in billionths or trillionths of a second. This causes a photoacoustic effect, breaking up targets like tattoo ink into tiny pieces using sound waves instead of just heat. These advances keep expanding what laser surgery can do.

    • Computerized scanning for uniformity
    • Utilization of Q-switched technology
    • Application of picosecond pulse durations
    • Creation of photoacoustic mechanical effects
    • Enhanced precision and reduced side effects

Anatomical Versatility

  • Laser surgery is used in many areas of medicine. For example, it reshapes the cornea in eye surgery, resurfaces skin in dermatology, breaks up kidney stones in urology, and treats mucosal tissue in gynecology.

    In cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, lasers are used on the face, neck, chest, hands, and other body areas. The settings and devices are adjusted for the skin’s thickness and healing ability in each area to keep the procedure safe.

    • Reshaping of corneal tissue in the eye
    • Fragmentation of calculi in urology
    • Resurfacing of facial and body skin
    • Treatment of mucosal surfaces
    • Adaptation to varying tissue thickness

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does the acronym LASER stand for?

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It describes the physical process used to create a beam of high-energy, single-color light that can be precisely focused for medical treatments.

Ablative lasers remove the top layer of skin (vaporization) to treat deep wrinkles and scars, requiring a longer recovery. Non-ablative lasers heat the underlying tissue without breaking the skin surface to stimulate collagen, offering a faster recovery but milder results.

Laser light is highly concentrated and can permanently damage the retina of the eye faster than you can blink. Specific goggles that filter out the exact wavelength of the laser being used are mandatory for the patient and all staff to prevent blindness.

A chromophore is a specific target in the body that absorbs a particular color of light. In laser surgery, we target three main chromophores: melanin (pigment), hemoglobin (blood), and water. The laser is tuned to hit one of these while ignoring everything else.

Lasers for tattoo removal use ultra-short pulses of energy that hit the ink particles so fast they shatter into tiny dust-like fragments. These microscopic fragments are then small enough for the body’s immune system to engulf and clear away naturally.

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