Full Article

What to Expect from Laser Birthmark Removal

Laser Birthmark Removal Technology

With the advent of laser surgery, birthmarks can now be removed almost painlessly and swiftly.  Laser birthmark removal treatments have been proven to minimize and completely remove birthmarks, according to one presentation at the American Academy of Dermatology's annual meeting. Not only can laser birthmark removal treatments improve the appearance of the child or adult who seeks such treatment, the treatment improves the self-esteem and quality of life of the patient as well.

What To Expect From Different Kinds of Laser Birthmark Removal Treatments

In general, all laser birthmark removal procedures are generally outpatient procedures, and only take a few minutes to complete for small marks, while larger marks may take a an hour to treat. This does not mean however that the birthmarks will be completely erased following their exposure to the laser treatments, as some marks require repeated treatments in order to even out of disappear.

Q-switched lasers, which include the Q-switched ruby and Q-switched Nd procedures have been effective in treating pigmented birthmarks like café au lait spot and moles or nevi. These treatments can lighten dark birthmarks several tones lighter or can make them completely disappear in just a few treatments.

Port wine stains were difficult to treat in the past. Today however, there is the pulsed dye laser birthmark removal treatment, which was created in order to treat port wine stains, makes the removal of port wine stain birthmarks easier and faster, according to one study.

78% of patients who were tested for the efficacy of the pulsed dye laser procedure were shown to have improvements of up to 50% in terms of fading of their birthmarks. Infants who undergo pulsed dye laser treatments will only experience mild discomfort during the entire procedure, which will only last for five to ten minutes.