The Division of Laser Surgery at Drexel offers the latest in laser technology. Lasers are surgical devices that use carefully selected wavelengths of focused beams of light to treat a variety of skin conditions. Our trained surgeon combines expertise with a wide range of lasers to specialize in the effective and safe use of lasers.
Patients can be treated for a variety of skin conditions with laser technology:
- Birthmarks, port wine stains, hemangiomas, blood vessels, rosacea, and other vascular lesions can be treated with our pulsed dye laser.
A pulsed dye laser generates a high energy laser light that very precisely and rapidly target blood vessels. These blood vessels are closed off or destroyed and subsequently redness gradually fades. Treatment may need to be repeated multiple times as each treatment may only achieve partial improvement. Because the wavelength of light is specific for blood vessels the surrounding tissues are usually not affected.
- Brown spots including freckles, birthmarks, age spots
Pigment lasers can remove solar lentigines, commonly referred to as “age,” “sun,” or “liver” spots. It can also remove freckles and other brown birthmarks, such as café-au-lait spots. The laser removes pigmented lesions by generating high energy laser light that precisely and rapidly targets melanin. Pigmented lesions are either lightened or removed when the laser light is absorbed by the abnormal concentrations of melanin.
- Tattoo removal
A Q-switched laser generates a very bright and extremely short pulses of light that very precisely and rapidly heats and breaks up tattoo particles. These broken up particles are then gradually removed from the area by the body’s scavenger cells. The process has to be repeated multiple times as each treatment achieves only partial fading of the tattoo. Almost all tattoos can be faded to at least some degree with the laser. “Homemade” blue-black tattoos require the least number of treatments for maximal fading while multicolored professional tattoos require many more treatments. Tattoos with multiple colors may need more than one laser for effective fading. Some colors, especially the new very vivid colors, do not fade at all. Black cosmetic facial tattoos can be faded with very few treatments. Traumatic tattoos also respond very readily to laser treatment.
- Laser hair removal
Hair removal lasers utilize energy in the form of light to specifically target and destroy hair follicles. This light penetrates into the skin and is best absorbed by hairs that are brown or black. When absorbed, the light energy is converted into heat and the hair and the cells from where the hair is growing (hair follicle) are heated. The heating causes damage to the hair follicle. Treated hair falls out within 1 to 2 weeks after the laser session. For best results, multiple sessions are usually required. Patients with blond, red and white hair do not respond well with traditional laser hair removal.
The following lasers are available at Drexel:
Pulsed Dye Laser
A pulsed dye laser generates a high energy laser light in extremely short pulses that very precisely and rapidly target blood vessels. These blood vessels are closed off or destroyed and subsequently redness gradually fades. Treatment may need to be repeated multiple times as each treatment may only achieve partial improvement. Because the wavelength of light is specific for blood vessels, the surrounding tissues are usually not affected.
What conditions respond to pulsed dye laser treatments?
Pulsed dye lasers are designed to treat vascular lesions. Port wine stains (red birthmarks), hemangiomas, angiomas, rosacea, telangiectasias (facial blood vessels), leg veins, venous lakes, scars, and stretch marks are some of the conditions that may see improvement after pulsed dye laser therapy. Certain types of lesions respond better than others.
Long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser 
The long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser is an ideal laser for hair removal in darker-skinned patients. This light penetrates into the skin and is absorbed by hairs that are brown or black. When absorbed, the light energy is converted into heat and the hair and the cells from where the hair is growing (hair follicle) are heated. The heating causes damage to the hair follicle.
Almost all of the treated hair falls out within one to two weeks with traditional laser hair removal. After six weeks to six months there is gradual regrowth of some of the hair. There is usually less of it than before and often the hair is usually thinner and somewhat lighter in color.
Alexandrite laser
The Alexandrite laser is primarily used for laser hair removal in fair-skinned patients. The Alexandrite laser specifically targets hair follicles.
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
For tattoo removal: The Q-switched laser generates a very bright and extremely short pulses of light that very precisely and rapidly heats and breaks up tattoo particles. These broken up particles are then gradually removed by the body’s scavenger cells from the area. The process has to be repeated multiple times as each treatment achieves partial fading of the tattoo.
Almost all tattoos can be faded to at least some degree with the laser. “Homemade” blue-black tattoos require the least number of treatments for maximal fading, while multi-colored, professional tattoos require more treatments. Tattoos with multiple colors may need more than one laser for effective fading. Some colors, especially the new very vivid colors, do not fade at all.
Black cosmetic facial tattoos can be faded with very few treatments. Traumatic tattoos also respond very readily to laser treatment.
For brown and pigmented lesions: The Q-switched laser removes pigmented lesions by generating high energy laser light that precisely and rapidly targets melanin. Pigmented lesions are either lightened or removed when the laser light is absorbed by the abnormal concentrations of melanin.
Most pigmented lesions are the result of increased numbers of pigment cells (also known as “melanocytes”) in the skin or increased pigment production by melanocytes. Often times these lesions result from ultraviolet light stimulation. Any changing or symptomatic pigmented lesion should be evaluated by a physician.
Pigment lasers can remove solar lentigines, commonly referred to as “age,” “sun,” or “liver” spots. It can also remove freckles and other brown birth marks, such as café-au-lait spots. The physician will recommend which brown spots are amenable to laser therapy.
The laser should not be used for the removal of lesions that are cancerous or suspected of being cancerous. If there is any doubt, your physician will discuss the appropriate treatment methods with you.
Fraxel laser
Drexel owns the Fraxel laser. This can be used for wrinkle reduction, rejuvenation, melasma, dark spots, age spots, sun damage, and acne scarring.
The Fraxel is a type of laser that creates very focused beams of light which create small columns of thermal injury at various depths within the skin. This innovative technology treats a small fraction of the skin at a time, thereby decreasing down time after the laser as well as decreasing the risk of side effects such as scarring and infection. The laser works by eliminating old pigmented skin cells in the top layers of skin. It also reaches deep to stimulate new collagen growth. The laser utilizes the body’s natural healing process to create new, healthy skin tissue to replace imperfections.
Fraxel is currently FDA-cleared to treat wrinkles around the eyes, dark spots and age spots, acne scarring, and melasma (pregnancy mask). Fine to moderate wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks can be significantly improved. General skin texture and tone are improved with Fraxel. Sun damaged skin including blotchiness, brown spots, yellowish discoloration, irregularity, keratoses (pre-cancers) can all be removed and replaced with younger-appearing skin. In some patients it has been shown to decrease pore size.
The Fraxel can also be used for rejuvenation on the neck, chest, arms, and hands.
To schedule a consultation for laser surgery, please call our office at 215-762-5550
Back to Top