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    CHICAGO--(BW HealthWire)--June 16, 1998--Smoothing wrinkled skin and erasing a once-impulsive tattoo are just two of the many ways today's precise and powerful lasers are helping cosmetic surgeons improve the appearance of many patients. In addition, the newest uses for lasers include removing unwanted hair, scars and other traditionally difficult problems to treat.

As laser technology and techniques have rapidly advanced in the past several years, lasers are now becoming an important tool for both the patient and the surgeon. They are providing patients with quicker recovery and generally less swelling, redness and bruising, as well as a new way to treat old problems like scars and birthmarks. For the surgeon, they are precise and offer a new treatment method with better control of bleeding.

"One of the newest areas for lasers is in laser hair reduction," said Paul J. Carniol, MD, a Summit, N.J., cosmetic surgeon. New technology in lasers allows for the reduction of unwanted hair quicker and more sweeping than with beauty salon treatments like electrolysis. For women, this tends to be on the face, arms, and bikini line, and for men, the back. "Laser hair reduction is quicker and can remove several hundred hairs at a time, which would be difficult to do with electrolysis," said Dr. Carniol. "But like electrolysis, it may or may not be permanent."

Another exciting advance in laser surgery is for scar removal. "The newer and redder the scar, the better the response," said Dr. Carniol. "Although we can treat older scars by resurfacing them, we get a great result with lasers on newer scars. We like to treat them within six to eight weeks of original healing." The laser does not cut the skin, but rather goes through the skin to the blood vessels to reduce the blood supply to the scar. The scar then stops thickening and gets thinner.

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), research is currently being conducted to not only look further into the newer uses for the laser, but also for possible future uses like to seal incisions versus using sutures.

Because there are many different types of lasers, and because they are powerful and relatively new, it is important for the consumer to consult with a qualified cosmetic surgeon skilled and trained in the use of lasers and with a good background in skin rejuvenation.