The Laser Makers Chime In by Nathan Johnson Are you considering a laser treatment to correct your vision, remove unwanted hair, or achieve flawless skin? Here's what laser manufacturers think you should know print article      send to a friend

Manufacturers such as Palomar, which works with the Harvard University-based Wellman Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital to develop new medical applications for laser technology, are providing thousands of people with new cosmetic alternatives. Di Toro's story echoes a common theme in medicine today; all over the country, and indeed the world, people are turning to laser technology to alter a variety of unwanted physical traits. But are lasers here to stay? By and large, the answer from the manufacturers of these lasers is a resounding "yes."

The easiest way to understand why people are choosing laser treatments, says Di Toro, can be found not in the laser itself, but in the procedures it has replaced. In the field of hair removal, for example, the advantages of laser treatment are clear. From back hair to bikini lines, Di Toro sees laser hair removal as an attractive alternative to the other options available. "Waxing . . . is very painful," he says. "If you want to have hair removed from your back, for example, you have to go to the salon to get the hair stripped from the follicles. It hurts like hell, and you have to continue going every couple of months."

The other non-laser option for people wanting to remove hair is electrolysis, which is performed by sticking a needle down a single hair follicle to zap the follicle. According to Di Toro, "electrolysis is a stab in the dark. While the laser works like a lawn mower, electrolysis works like tweezers, removing one hair at a time. Furthermore, Di Toro notes, electrolysis can take a long time. "Some women go in for years and years to remove facial hair."

Preventing Blindness?

Many industry representatives consider ophthalmology to be the most explosive areafor laser technology thus far. Lasers are in the process of reaching far beyond the procedures that most people are currently aware of, such as LASIK. "One of the most exciting areas with lasers. . . is age-related macular degeneration," says Greg Fava, Director of Product Marketing for laser manufacturer Iridex Corp. Until recently, macular degeneration--the leading cause of blindness in people over sixty years of age--was virtually untreatable. However, current laser studies offer hope. "Studies have shown that by applying low energy (infrared) doses of 810 nanometer light to the central portion of the macula (where the lesion resides) they're getting the lesion to disappear, visual improvement, and so far the long-term prognosis is good for these patients who had no prior alternative."

But while some areas of medicine have already been drastically altered by lasers, other potentially laser-friendly specialties have been slower to embrace them. Dentistry seems to be the slowest. According to the National Institute for Dental Research (NIDR), only 5% of dentists currently have a laser in their office. "In dentistry it's hard to generate the revenue that is specifically oriented around the use of the laser to financially justify the expense of the laser," explains Stan Perkins, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lares Research, a dental equipment manufacturer. But this may soon change.

For the Skin and Their Teeth

According to Perkins, because lasers have recently been proven capable of treating common hard tissue dental problems like cavities, media attention may soon bring more exposure to lasers in dentistry as a whole. When that happens, laser procedures that are potential gold mines for dentists, such as laser periodontal disease treatments, will be placed in the spotlight, thereby boosting the incentive for dentists to purchase lasers for their offices. In Perkins' opinion, this would be an exciting development in dentistry. "Ask anybody who's ever had periodontal surgery, where they've had their gums reduced with a scalpel and sutures -- nobody likes it . . . it's painful . . . it's ugly," says Perkins. "Periodontal laser treatment is less painful, has less bleeding, and has a faster recovery than traditional programs."

Advancements are also being made on the skin front. Psoriasis is just one example. "Psoriasis affects a lot of people all over the world," says Di Toro. "There really aren't a lot of treatments that work well. But lasers are showing promise in this area. There are clinical studies where they're getting good results with these lasers." According to Di Toro, further clinical studies are being conducted to treat a variety of other skin conditions as well.

With promising advances occurring in formerly hopeless areas like Periodontal Disease and Macular Degeneration, the continued growth of lasers in medicine looks like a sure thing. But beyond bringing hope to patients with previously untreatable conditions, lasers also have a more far-reaching appeal; from skin to gum problems, they usually cause less discomfort than traditional procedures. As Perkins points out, "just look at the success of lasers with procedures for the eyes -- people would rather have the laser cut them than a scalpel." Will people continue to opt for quicker, less painful procedures? If the success of lasers is any indication, the likely answer is "yes."