Laser Surgery

Anyone who is thinking about having laser surgery should ask his doctor to:

• explain why laser surgery is likely to be more beneficial than traditional surgery
• describe his experience in performing the laser procedure the patient is considering

Because some lasers can temporarily or permanently discolor the skin, a dark-skinned patient should make sure that his surgeon has successfully performed laser procedures on people of color.

Some types of laser surgery should not be performed on pregnant women or on patients with severe cardiopulmonary disease or other serious health problems.