Laser Surgery - Laser Applications

Sometimes described as "scalpels of light," lasers are used alone or with conventional surgical instruments in a diverse array of procedures that:

• improve appearance
• relieve pain
• restore function
• save lives

Laser surgery is often standard operating procedure for specialists in:

• cardiology
• dentistry
• dermatology
• gastroenterology (treatment of disorders of the stomach and intestines)
• gynecology
• neurosurgery
• oncology (cancer treatment)
• ophthalmology (treatment of disorders of the eye)
• orthopedics (treatment of disorders of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons)
• otolaryngology (treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, and throat)
• pulmonary care (treatment of disorders of the respiratory system
• urology (treatment of disorders of the urinary tract and of the male reproductive system)

Routine uses of lasers include erasing birthmarks, skin discoloration, and skin changes due to aging, and removing benign, precancerous, or cancerous tissues or tumors. Lasers are used to stop snoring, remove tonsils, remove or transplant hair, and relieve pain and restore function in patients who are too weak to undergo major surgery.

Lasers are also used to treat:

• angina (chest pain)
• cancerous or non-cancerous tumors that cannot be removed or destroyed
• cold and canker sores, gum disease, and tooth sensitivity or decay
• ectopic pregnancy (development of a fertilized egg outside the uterus)
• endometriosis
• fibroid tumors
• gallstones
• glaucoma, mild-to-moderate nearsightedness and astigmatism, and other conditions that impair sight
• migraine headaches
• non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland
• nosebleeds
• ovarian cysts
• ulcers
• varicose veins
• warts
• numerous other conditions, diseases, and disorders