Thankfully, birthmarks are not an issue that requires serious medical intervention. Instead, they’re an aesthetic issue that many find displeasing. Unfortunately, those that have birthmarks have no say on whether they have one due to the nature of the condition. But is birthmark removal painful?
Is Birthmark Removal Painful?
Fortunately, it’s quite possible to remove birthmarks with procedures that are effective and thorough. However, you might be curious whether these methods are painful.
The good news is that there are several solid options with low pain. If you’re considering receiving birthmark removal near you in New York, then take a look over this review of which procedures involve minimal pain.
The Birthmark Removal Process
There are several methods that are used to remove birthmarks. The most prominent involves surgery, certain medications, and laser therapy.
Each method has its strengths, and which one you decide to go with will ultimately depend on what your physician recommends as the wisest course of action.
Each type of birthmark removal will involve some level of preparation on the part of the client in order to ensure that the procedure goes as smoothly as possible. That being said, they all have their own ways of mitigating pain to some degree or the other.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is a highly efficacious method of taking care of unwanted birthmarks. During laser therapy, a physician focuses a highly energetic beam of light toward the target area.
The light converts to heat as it impacts the skin, which is remarkably effective at shrinking or eliminating errant blood vessels. This can almost immediately make certain birthmarks less noticeable.
Laser therapy is particularly effective when it comes to performing procedures on infants whose skin is highly receptive to change. That being said, the treatment also works well for older children and adults.
Café au lait marks and congenital vascular birthmarks are two types of marks that respond very well to laser therapy.
Laser therapy is perhaps the lowest impact of all of the treatments, but it does have some side effects. You might experience some mild peeling or irritation around the surgical site.
Medication
There are several types of medication that may be utilized in order to diminish the appearance of birthmarks. One class of drugs is known as beta-blockers, which are usually prescribed to individuals with high blood pressure.
These drugs are able to shrink blood vessels and reduce blood flow to an area, which shrinks the presence of blood-based birthmarks. This includes birthmarks such as hemangiomas.
Another class of drugs that are commonly used in this context include corticosteroids, which also have the ability to shrink blood vessels.
However, these drugs are typically only administered to young children. This is because their efficacy shrinks after an individual begins growing.
Overall, should the patient’s makeup match well with the drugs, this is possibly the most painless path.
Surgery and Shaving
There are a number of relatively non-invasive surgery options for individuals looking to eliminate their birthmarks.
The main option in this regard is known as shaving, where a physician delicately shaves the birthmark down. This is most effectively utilized with birthmarks that have some kind of protrusion that can be addressed.
Usually, this type of procedure only utilizes local anesthesia. This is typically preferred by many patients to general anesthesia due to its milder effects and recovery time.
Preparing For Your Treatment
All types of birthmark reduction will carry with them some level of preparation that is needed for successful surgical execution. Some of these things will include preparations like the following:
- Smoking cessation
- Adjusting the amount of alcohol you imbibe
- Adjusting your intake of certain medications
- Arranging for your post-surgical period
- Asking about medication interactions if that is the route that you take
General Pain Information
All three of these options are generally low on pain. Because you’ll be placed under general anesthesia, even the surgical options are also relatively painless.
That being said, it is recommended to go with either laser therapy or medication if those options remain available to you. This is because, overall, they remain less invasive and painful than the surgical alternatives.
Proving New York With Painless Birthmark Removal
Sheryl Clark Dermatology is one of NYC’s premier surgeons for birthmark removal. If you’re considering undertaking this kind of procedure and would like to schedule a consultation to discuss how to do it as painlessly as possible, then schedule a consultation in order to find out why she’s considered one of NYC’s centers for dermatology in NYC.