1. Categorizing the Birthmark by Appearance
When considering birthmark removal surgery, you should determine the type of birthmark you have. Pigmentation birthmarks are one of the most common types. Moles and Mongolian spots fall into this category. These birthmarks cause the pigment of the skin to look discolored at the site. Macular stain birthmarks appear as thin, pink patches of discoloration. The other main types of birthmarks include hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Vascular malformations have a port wine color; hemangiomas most often appear as lesions around the head and neck.
2. Do You Really Need It?
Before you get birthmark removal surgery, you and your doctor will have to discuss whether or not you're a good candidate for the surgery. Most of the time, birthmarks don't pose a serious risk to a person's health. Many candidates for birthmark removal wish to get rid of it for aesthetic reasons. When the birthmark appears on an awkward area of the body, like the mouth, you may also wish to have it removed. People with birthmarks around the mouth may have trouble eating.
3. Laser vs. Surgery
In most cases, laser therapy is the chosen method to get rid of the birthmark. With laser technology, areas of the skin are lightened. It will even out the skin tone and make the birth mark less noticeable or disappear altogether. Each laser treatment may take less than 10 minutes. If the birthmark has a very dark appearance, several laser treatments are used to remove it. In rare cases, for example if the patient has an internal hemangioma, surgery is scheduled. Laser therapy is the preferred method of contemporary birthmark removal due to the non-invasive nature of the surgery. However, one of the drawbacks of laser treatment is that there's no guarantee of permanent results.
4. You'll Bounce Back Quickly
When you get birthmark removal surgery, don't expect a long recovery. Although you may feel some discomfort following laser treatment, you should be able to resume normal activities right away. You may also notice some bruising or swelling at the site where the laser was used to remove the birthmark. With surgery, you may need more recovery time depending on the type of surgery performed. If the birthmark was on an internal organ, you'll require a hospital stay to recover.
5. Few Risks Involved
Although birthmark removal is relatively safe, you still have some risks. One of the most common side effects of laser removal surgery includes further skin discoloration at the birthmark spot. The spot may appear unevenly colored with some of the skin lighter and some patches darker. If this occurs, additional procedures are performed to correct the problem. In rare cases, bleeding and scabbing can occur.
