Laser Surgery with the Accuvet CO2 Laser

"Yep...you're losing another tooth. I hope you like soft food!"

Laser Surgery with the Accuvet^tm CO2 Laser

Accuvet^tm Laser Surgery allows us to provide safer and more comfortable treatment for your pets. In many procedures, the laser can replace the scalpel and provide a better alternative to traditional surgery. We present some general information about laser surgery below. For more detailed information, please visit the Accuvet^tm Web Site.

Benefits of Laser Surgery

	Less Pain - Your pet feels less pain after laser surgery than with traditional surgery because laser surgery seals the nerve endings as it "cuts".
	Less Bleeding - Since the laser seals small blood vessels during surgery, it can reduce the amount of time required for surgery and anesthesia, thereby reducing the risk of complications.
	Less Swelling - Since the only thing that touches your pet is the laser (an intense beam of coherent light), you have less swelling
	Precision - The laser can precisely remove diseased or unhealthy tissue without being as invasive to surrounding healthy tissue as in traditional surgery.
	Reduced Risk of Infection - Lasers offer a reduced risk of infection because they seal the skin as they cut, thereby reducing the chance of bacterial infection.
	Quicker Recovery - Because your pet has less pain, bleeding, and swelling with laser surgery, this leads to quicker recovery than with traditional surgery.

How Does a CO2 Laser Work?

The CO2 Laser is the most commonly used surgical laser and works by producing an invisible beam of light that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. This beam of light can cut, seal, or vaporize tissue with precision, thereby minimizing adverse effects to surrounding tissue.

Is it safe?

Lasers have been successfully used on humans for over 30 years and now this knowledge and experience can be used to your pet's benefit. Because it has less side effects than traditional surgery, the risk of complications with laser surgery is less than with traditional surgery.

What surgical procedures can a laser perform?

Lasers are most commonly used in soft tissue surgical procedures, including but not limited to: mass removals (e.g. the removal of cysts, tumors), dermatology (e.g. the removal of warts), cat declaw, amputations, spay, neuter, oral, dental, avian, and exotic procedures.

Where can I get more information on surgical lasers?

The Accuvet^tm Web site has more detailed information on lasers, including a frequently asked questions page.