Laser therapy is a tool that physicians and surgeons can use to treat a variety of conditions.

“Laser” stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.”

It uses intense beams of light to remove tissue.

An illustration with common laser therapy uses

Laser therapy can have many uses in medical and cosmetic procedures.

What Is Laser Therapy?

There are multiple types of lasers that can be used, including:

Ordinary light has many different wavelengths.

Cancer Treatment

Several types of cancer can be treated with laser therapy.

Blood Vessels

Laserscan be used to treat blood vessels in multiple ways.

The laser can seal the blood vessels and stop the bleeding.

One of the most common eye surgeries using a laser is done to correct and improve vision.

Some of the skin treatments thatuse lasersinclude improvement of:

Who Shouldnt Have Laser Therapy?

The choice of using laser therapy to treat any medical condition should be discussed with your treating healthcare provider.

They should also be made aware of previous surgeries that you have had.

Preparation

How to prepare for laser treatment varies based on the procedure being done.

The healthcare provider performing your laser therapy should provide specific instructions on preparing for the procedure.

If you havent gotten them or have any questions, call the medical office for specifics.

Benefits of Laser Therapy

Laser therapy offers many benefits.

Laser procedures generally are safe to do and are often well-tolerated, without many side effects.

The areas it’s used on can also heal more quickly and can experience less scarring.

Risks

As with any medical procedure, laser therapy is not completely without risk.

Summary

Laser therapy is a commonly used treatment that has a wide range of uses in medicine.

But if you still have questions, be sure to ask.

Laser therapy generally is well tolerated and often has a quick recovery time.

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of laser therapy varies based on what treatment is being performed.

If it is considered a medical necessity, it may be covered and paid for by insurance.

Cosmetic procedures are often paid for out of pocket.

Laser therapy can be very effective in treating specific areas while leaving surrounding tissue untouched.

Stanford Medicine Health Care.What is laser surgery?

Food and Drug Administration.Frequently asked questions about lasers.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Laser surgery overview.

National Cancer Institute.Lasers to treat cancer.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Endovenous laser varicose vein surgery.

American Cancer Society.How lasers are used to treat cancer.

Food and Drug Administration.LASIK.

American Academy of Opthalmology.Cataract surgery: risks, recovery, costs.

National Eye Institute.Laser surgery and freeze treatment for retinal tears.

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.Laser/light therapy.

Food and Drug Administration.What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?

Azadgoli B, Baker RY.Laser applications in surgery.Ann Transl Med.

2016;4(23):452. doi:10.21037/atm.2016.11.51

Food and Drug Administration.Medical lasers.