Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Laser therapy is a medical treatment that uses focused light. It allows surgeons to work at high levels of precision by focusing on a small area, damaging less of the surrounding tissue. If you have laser therapy, you may experience less pain, swelling, and scarring than with traditional surgery. However, laser therapy can be expensive and require repeated treatments.
Laser surgeries are usually shorter than traditional operations. They can often be done on an outpatient basis. It is most common benefit is that you don’t have to spend a night in the hospital. If general anesthesia is required, usually used for a shorter time. People also tend to heal faster with laser treatment. Recovery after the therapy varies based on the type of therapy you received and how much of your body was affected by the therapy.
Laser therapy may be used to:
- Remove kidney stone
- Repair a detached retina
- Improve vision
- Relieve symptoms of cancer
- Shrink or destroy tumors, polyps, or precancerous growths
- Treat hair loss resulting from alopecia or aging
- Remove part of the prostate
- Treat pain, including back nerve pain