Lasers in Cosmetic Surgery
Lasers are used in many different aspects of cosmetic surgery such as the removing of moles, scars and blemishes, tattoos, wrinkles, birthmarks, blood vessels and hair.
Lasers have a few properties that make it possible to do the previous: They can pass through different depths and layers of the skin without damaging them. Lasers that pass through the skin will be absorbed by blood vessels or pigmentation and then converted to heat.
Example 1- lasers on hairs:
Without damaging the first layers of skin, the laser penetrates it. Then the laser light is absorbed by the hair shaft (and the dark colour within it) and is converted to heat. The hairs are then burnt off and will either be shed or absorbed by the lower layers of skin.
Example 2- lasers on pigmentation:
The laser goes through the initial layers of skin without any damage to them. Then the laser light is absorbed by the dark colour of the pigmentation’s particles and is converted to heat. The pigmentation is burnt off and like the hair will either be shed or absorbed by the lower layers of skin.
Example 3- resurfacing lasers:
Unlike the last two examples the lasers are designed to remove the first layers of skin without causing any damage to the lower layers. The water that is in cells absorbs these lasers and from there the laser light is converted to heat and burns the cells. The burnt cells then evaporate leaving a raw area of skin that will usually heal over a few days.
Lasers have a few properties that make it possible to do the previous: They can pass through different depths and layers of the skin without damaging them. Lasers that pass through the skin will be absorbed by blood vessels or pigmentation and then converted to heat.
Example 1- lasers on hairs:
Without damaging the first layers of skin, the laser penetrates it. Then the laser light is absorbed by the hair shaft (and the dark colour within it) and is converted to heat. The hairs are then burnt off and will either be shed or absorbed by the lower layers of skin.
Example 2- lasers on pigmentation:
The laser goes through the initial layers of skin without any damage to them. Then the laser light is absorbed by the dark colour of the pigmentation’s particles and is converted to heat. The pigmentation is burnt off and like the hair will either be shed or absorbed by the lower layers of skin.
Example 3- resurfacing lasers:
Unlike the last two examples the lasers are designed to remove the first layers of skin without causing any damage to the lower layers. The water that is in cells absorbs these lasers and from there the laser light is converted to heat and burns the cells. The burnt cells then evaporate leaving a raw area of skin that will usually heal over a few days.