Brown Spot Removal with Laser

Before and after brown spot removal from face with laser 1 treatment

When a patient presents to our clinic for laser brown spot removal from their face, here is our systematic approach for removing it safely, and getting the best results with the least amount of scarring as possible.

1. Determine whether or not the lesion is suspicious

If the pigmented lesion is suspicious, then it should not be lasered.  The patient will need further investigation or treatment, which may include excision or biopsy with histological examination. If the lesion is suspicious, it needs to be examined by a specialist pathologist under a microscope to determine whether or not it is a melanoma, dysplastic neavus or some other sinister lesion.

Patients must see a doctor prior to having laser treatment.

2. Determine which laser will be the most efficient and effective at removing the lesion

Plat lesions like freckles and some sun spots will require a different laser to lesions that are slightly to obviously raised.

3. Photographs should be taken

It is important to take photos to see how the lesion started, in case this needs to be reviewed

4. Consent form needs to be discussed and signed

The consent form will discuss the information the patient needs to know about the  treatment and will list all of the potential risks and side effects

5. The treatment

For raised brown spot that is raised on the face,  the treatment will be Erbium laser. Treatment will take about 5 minutes. The patient will lie down, protective goggles will be placed on their eyes and the skin will be cleaned. The laser will then be used. The ablative laser has loud pulses and multiple passes are usually required on the brown spot. There is minimal pain, most patients will give it about a 3/10. The patient may have happy gas if they find the procedure too painful.

6. Dressings applied

Duoderm dressings are applied to the wound and for the first 24 hours another dressing may be applied over the duoderm in case of bleeding overnight

7. Aftercare

If duoderm dressings are used, they may remain on the wound for 7 days and then may be taken off.

The patient should avoid swimming and should also try to avoid getting water from the shower on the wound.

Bleeding in the first 24 hours is common, the patient should just apply pressure to the wound with some gauze.

If the wounds are uncovered, then they may be dressed with vaseline or paw paw ointment.

The patient should not pick at the wounds, and let them heal naturally

8. Review

Time for review should be at 4 weeks or more. There may still be redness. The redness can last for several months and is a normal part of the healing process. If at 4 weeks there is still some of the brown spot present, then a second treatment will be necessary and can be performed at that time

 

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