Fully ablative lasers

Ablative carbon dioxide laser treatment can be an effective treatment for benign skin lesions. The treatment is usually performed with injected local anaesthetic but there may still be pain during the procedure or afterwards and this can persist for days or longer. The surface layer of the skin is removed using the ablative laser. Immediately following the treatment the area appears raw and whitish/brown. There may be some bleeding. The area heals over a couple of weeks and there can be ongoing blistering, crusting and oozing during this time.

Additional risks during this early period of healing include bacterial infection or viral (herpes) infection. Redness is very common and will often resolve within weeks, however it can remain for months or rarely can be permanent. There is a risk of increased pigmentation, loss of pigmentation or patchy changes in pigmentation (all of which can be permanent). The area heals by forming scar tissue. There is a risk of unsightly or keloid scar formation. Other risks include cyst formation (lumps beneath the skin) and increased sensitivity to sunlight. It is essential to avoid excessive sunlight exposure and to use a sunblock cream for a minimum of 6 weeks after treatment. Due to the potential for complications if a large area or multiple lesions are to be treated it is advisable to attend for a small test patch of treatment first and then assess healing prior to treating a larger area or larger number of lesions.

You will be asked to sign a consent form when you attend for the procedure. Please read this carefully prior to the appointment: Consent Form