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Carbon Dioxide Laser
Medical science is growing by leaps and bounds in modern society. One of the areas that has benefitted the most from these advances is laser surgery. The speed, safety, and healing power of laser incisions is often turning invasive surgery into simple outpatient procedures. One of the earliest forms of laser surgery is carbon dioxide laser surgery, or CO2 laser surgery. It consists of a beam of infrared light delivered in a scanning pattern to remove layers of skin, or reshape the cornea of the eye in Lasik surgery. Because of its natural sterilizing effect, laser surgery is safer and less prone to infections than regular surgery. It is now being used in general surgery, neurosurgery, ear/nose/throat surgery, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. The advantages of CO2 surgery include less pain, bleeding, swelling, and scarring, greater precision, and faster recovery.
Fast Facts
- Carbon dioxide laser surgery can be effectively used in skin resurfacing in such areas as benign skin growths, birthmarks, warts, and facelifts (or wrinkle removal).
- CO2 laser surgery can take as little as 15 to 30 minutes and the patient can generally return to their normal level of activity immediately.
