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Laser Surgery

Laser surgery techniques, as performed by Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Gill, can have a dramatic and positive effect on you both aesthetically and emotionally speaking, if you struggle with skin lesions or darkened areas of pigment.

If You're Considering Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is a highly advanced, and ever-growing avenue of plastic surgery. Though traditional surgical techniques may be used to treat skin imperfections and growths, laser surgery can do much of it with minimum bleeding, scarring or bruising. Though many types of laser technologies exist, they are most commonly used to treat the following:

You may be an ideal candidate for laser surgery if you are a healthy nonsmoker, as that will aid in proper healing and ensure a better result from your treatment.

In your consultation, Dr. Gill will choose the appropriate laser technology for your skin condition:

• Yellow pulsed-dye laser
• "Pigment blasting" lasers
• Carbon dioxide laser
• YAG laser
• Argon laser
• Copper vapor laser

What to Expect from Surgery

Though laser technologies vary, they are often administered in a similar fashion. Your laser surgery can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the condition of your skin and the amount of skin to be treated. Before beginning, your skin will be cleansed and you will be given a local anesthetic. For many of these laser surgeries, you may feel a warming or tingling of the skin.

When Dr. Gill is ready to begin, he will use the appropriate laser and pass it over the skin to be treated. The laser's beams will pass through your skin and be absorbed in the underlying layers. For instance, a yellow pulsed-dye laser is absorbed largely by hemoglobin, which gives your blood its red color and will diminish the appearance of pink birthmarks. These passes over the skin with the laser will be alternated with short periods of time that allow your skin to cool. When your treatment is completed, your skin may be covered with a dressing to protect it as it begins to heal.

Recovering from Laser Surgery

After your laser surgery, you may experience a burning sensation of the treated skin. Dr. Gill will give you specific aftercare instructions, which may include applying an ointment to the area. Depending on the area treated, it may take one to two weeks for your skin to adequately heal. In some cases, follow-up treatments may be necessary.

To learn more about laser surgery options in Houston, we encourage you to call and schedule a consultation with skilled plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Gill.