Use our library to make wiser treatment decisions. Discover why a podiatrist may be the best choice for you. Explore the treatments Arbor Foot Health Center will use to free you from pain.
,Laser Surgery in Foot Care
By Dr. Gary Prant, D.P.M..
What is a laser?
A laser is a device which generates an intense, finely focused beam of light. This laser beam permits surgery to be performed more safely and conveniently for patients. This laser turns the water in the cells to steam, called vaporization. There is no burning.
Is laser surgery a new technique?
Lasers have been used in surgery for over 30 years by eye surgeons and other specialists. Laser surgery to treat foot problems has been done in our office since 1985. We have done thousands of successful laser procedures.
What are the foot problems best treated by laser surgery?
The laser beam of light is used in place of the scalpel to remove warts, ingrown nails, fungus infected toenails, and some deep-rooted calluses, among other foot problems.
What are the benefits of laser surgery for foot problems?
Laser surgery takes advantage of the properties of lasers to remove tissue without many of the undesirable side effects that sometimes result from using a scalpel. The microscopically guided laser light vaporizes the affected tissues almost instantaneously and so precisely that normal surrounding tissues are not affected. The unique property of the laser is that as it vaporizes and destroys diseased tissue, it also sterilizes and stops bleeding in the surrounding areas.
Result: Much less tissue injury and swelling after surgery, which in turn results in reduced pain and discomfort. Patients recover more quickly, heal better and have a decreased risk of infection. Even better, scars are less likely or smaller. With the laser, it is frequently possible to complete treatment in one visit, while with other techniques, many visits or even hospitalization may be required.
Where is laser surgery done?
Laser surgery is performed in our office. The patient is first given a local anesthetic and then the laser light is targeted to the affected area. The entire procedure is completed in a very short time and the patient is able to walk out of the office after the procedure. Post-operative discomfort is minimal.
Is the laser like an x-ray?
No! There is no ionizing radiation present in the laser beam, so there is no danger of radiation exposure. In fact, lasers are all around us today, not only in medicine. For example, supermarket checkout counters use lasers (of a different type) to read the universal product code on packages. Lasers are used for many things from more accurate surveying, to welding, to drilling holes in baby bottle nipples.
What lasers do you use?
We have two lasers, a microscopically guided carbon dioxide laser, and we recently added the Q-Clear Laser. We have used the first for years to treat a variety of conditions including ingrown nails, warts and deep calluses. Our new addition is also FDA approved for cosmetic procedures and is awaiting FDA approval for use to treat fungal toenails.
Learn more about lasers by:
See before and after photos of Q-Clear Laser treatment on fungal toenails here.
Dr. Prant is on the Board of Directors of the Texas Podiatric Medical association and is a long time member of Seton Hospital's Laser Committee.