Current Concepts: Laser Treatment of Adult Vascular Lesions

Tomi L. Wall

doi:10.1055/s-2007-991183

Seminars in Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

Semin Plast Surg 2007; 21(3): 147-158
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-991183

Current Concepts: Laser Treatment of Adult Vascular Lesions

Tomi L. Wall¹

¹Department of Dermatology, Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Patients frequently seek treatment of cutaneous vascular lesions for both medical and cosmetic reasons. Advances in the use of lasers and light sources enable physicians to effectively treat vascular lesions that were previously untreatable. Given the plethora of devices available, selecting the appropriate laser system and treatment parameters can be confusing for the laser surgeon. This article reviews current concepts in the treatment of adult vascular conditions. It highlights the different types of lasers and the most common vascular lesions amenable to therapy. Also, the article offers several pearls regarding selection of the laser and of the treatment parameters.

KEYWORDS

Laser - vascular lesions - treatment - review - skin - telangiectasia - port wine stain - IPL

Full Text

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