Laser Ablation

Laser ablation, also called photoablation, is the process of removing material from a solid or occasionally liquid surface by irradiating it with a laser beam. At low intensity the targeted material heats and evaporates or sublimates, while at high intensity it converts to plasma; pulsed or continuous-wave lasers can be used, and ultrashort pulses cause minimal collateral damage to surrounding tissue. In medicine, laser ablation is used across specialties including ophthalmology, general surgery, neurosurgery, otolaryngology, dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and veterinary practice, in procedures such as LASIK, skin resurfacing, cavity preparation, biopsies, and the removal of tumors and lesions. It is also used to treat benign thyroid nodules and liver lesions through laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy, and to address chronic venous insufficiency.