Laser Surgery Specialist

How are lasers used in urology?

For several decades, laser surgery has been used in urology to treat an array of problems, from breaking apart kidney stones so they can be passed or removed from the body to managing benign prostate enlargement to treating tumors, masses and even skin lesions that can develop as a result of sexually-transmitted diseases or skin cancers. Today, one of the most common laser-based procedures is urolithiasis, the use of special lasers to break apart large kidney stones so they can be passed in the urine or extracted via a procedure called endoscopy. “Shrinking” prostate glands that have become enlarged as a result of aging is another common use for lasers. In fact, many procedures that once required “open” incisions can now be treated more conservatively using lasers.

What are the benefits of laser surgery in urology?

Lasers offer a host of benefits in urology as in other areas of medicine where they're used. The primary benefit is that lasers typically require small incisions or no incisions at all, which results in fewer complications like infection, as well as faster recovery. In the treatment of skin lesions, lasers cause far less scarring. Lasers also “seal” tissue during treatment, which causes less bleeding during and after surgery and less inflammation and discomfort during healing and recovery.

How do lasers work in urological procedures?

Lasers emit strong bursts of energy that can be controlled very precisely via on-board computers. The energy can be used to make incisions, break apart kidney stones, shrink tissue and remove tissue through a process called ablation. As the laser removes tissue, the heat of the laser energy seals vessels and helps coagulate or clot blood to prevent bleeding. Because of their precision, they can be safely used for a wide array of medical issues.