No abstract

Fifty-one patients underwent an FDA-approved study of laser-assisted liposuction in five plastic surgery centers. The YAG laser fiber is contained within the cannula and shears off the fat cleanly and coagulates blood vessels as the fat is drawn into the cannula. The drop in hemoglobin was relatively modest after surgery. Patients were able to return to work at six days and to light exercise at seven days. Contralateral studies showed a slight benefit for the laser side at both one and eight weeks for ecchymosis, pain/discomfort, and edema. Lipocrit studies were inconsistent.

A summary of the pathophysiology and clinical use of the argon laser in the treatment of cutaneous lesions is presented. The nonionizing blue-green argon laser light is absorbed by pigment, is converted to heat, and selectively destroys specific cutaneous lesions with sparing of adjacent dermal appendages and healing of the laser wound with minimal scarring. Vascular lesions (port wine hemangioma, capillary-cavernous hemangioma, telangiectasia), inflammatory lesions (pyogenic granuloma), nevoid lesions, tattoo lesions, and a variety of miscellaneous lesions have been successfully treated.