We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are the Different Types of Laser Surgery?

Alex Tree
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 19,979
Share

Laser surgery is generally performed with a laser that delivers a very shallow cut, which can speed up the recovery time of the patient. Prostate, cosmetic, and vision surgery are commonly performed by lasers, among other types of surgeries. Green laser surgery is a minimally invasive treatment and reduction of enlarged prostates, while laser cosmetic surgery is often used to reduce the appearance of scars and tattoos. Lastly, vision surgery can drastically improve a person’s vision by remodeling the cornea and can sometimes lead to vision that is considered perfect or better than perfect. In many cases, laser surgery is performed while the patient is awake, though a local anesthetic is sometimes applied.

Eye surgery performed by laser is typically called LASIK and often leaves the patient with 20/20 vision, which is generally considered perfect. Occasionally, the patient may end up with better vision than 20/20, such as 20/15 or 20/10. Laser eye surgery is normally an outpatient procedure performed while the patient is awake. Like with all surgeries, this type of laser surgery has risks, and the patient may end up seeing glares or halos in his or her vision. Good candidates for LASIK are generally more than 21 years old, not pregnant, and do not have serious health problems.

Laser surgery is sometimes performed on the prostate in order to alleviate urination issues. An enlarged prostate is common among older men because the prostate begins growing again around the age of 25, eventually resulting in urination problems many years later. The goal of this type of surgery, normally called green laser surgery, is to remove tissue that is obstructing proper urination in a minimally invasive way. Laser prostate surgery is also sometimes performed to reduce the size of enlarged prostates by destroying tissue. This surgery can sometimes be performed as an outpatient procedure, but occasionally requires a one-day stay in the hospital due to complications.

Cosmetic surgery by laser is usually non-invasive and performed as an outpatient procedure at a dermatologist’s. Laser cosmetic surgery is often used to reduce the appearance of tattoos and scars. It usually takes multiple sessions to remove a tattoo, but small scars can be significantly quicker to reduce. Removing all trace of the scar or tattoo to the layperson is often possible. Like LASIK surgery, this kind of cosmetic surgery is generally performed with a local anesthetic, and the patient can immediately go about daily life as normal.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Alex Tree
By Alex Tree
Andrew McDowell is a talented writer and The Health Board contributor. His unique perspective and ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible manner make him a valuable asset to the team, as he crafts content that both informs and engages readers.
Discussion Comments
By Raynbow — On May 01, 2014

@ocelot60- I had Lasik surgery several years ago, and experienced very little discomfort following the procedure. My eyes were sensitive to bright light for a while, and my vision was a bit blurry at first. But after about a week, I was thrilled with the results.

By Ocelot60 — On Apr 30, 2014

I am thinking about having Lasik laser surgery, but I have had some concerns about pain following the procedure. I have heard from different people that there is some pain involved while others say this type of surgery is painless. Does anyone have any thoughts?

Alex Tree
Alex Tree
Andrew McDowell is a talented writer and The Health Board contributor. His unique perspective and ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible manner make him a valuable asset to the team, as he crafts content that both informs and engages readers.
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-laser-surgery.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.