Since the introduction of laser technology into the health-care market, many uses have become available for cosmetic treatment. With laser procedures growing in popularity, the Food and Drug Administration has become more involved in regulating this field. As technology continues to improve, the ways that lasers can be used for cosmetic alterations also continues to grow.
Eye Correction
Falling into both the medical and cosmetic field, laser eye correction surgery is one treatment method that has allowed thousands of people to throw away their eyeglasses. Laser eye correction works by reshaping the cornea, which is responsible for focusing images correctly on your retina. By reshaping the tissue of the cornea, laser eye surgery can help correct both near- and far-sightedness.
Hair Removal
Hair removal is another area of the beauty market where lasers have become a regular part of treatment. Practitioners use the heat energy of the laser to destroy the hair follicle, rendering it unable to grow new hair. The laser works by targeting melanin, the substance that gives hair its color. By focusing on the most melanin-dense areas, the laser can accurately pick out hair follicles from the surrounding skin tissue. However, this makes laser hair removal less affective people with both dark skin and dark hair.
Spider Veins
Unsightly spider veins can also be treated by a laser procedure. In this treatment, the light energy of the laser is used to seal off the offending veins. According to the Vein Directory Organization, once the vein's blood supply has been cut off, the vein dissolves. Several treatments are often needed to achieve full results.
Skin
Lasers have become especially popular in treating wrinkles and skin blemishes. With this procedure, known as laser resurfacing, a laser is used to address wrinkles, acne scarring, skin growths, skin pigmentation and sun damage. These lasers work in two ways. Ablative lasers remove the top layers of skin, often including skin blemishes. Non-ablative lasers work by penetrating deep into the skin, stimulating collagen growth, which helps fill out wrinkles and other fine lines on the skin's surface.
Teeth
Teeth are also commonly cosmetically treated by lasers. According to the American Dental Association, lasers (such as argon and carbon dioxide lasers) are used in dental offices to assist in the use of in-office peroxide bleaching agents. New laser technology is also becoming available to assist in other dental procedures, such as drilling, cavity filling and caries removal.
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