Laser Surgery for Skin Cancer

Surgery Overview

Laser surgery uses a wavelength of light that is focused in a narrow beam. This high-intensity light is used to shrink or destroy skin cancers or precancers (actinic keratosis). With lasers, there is usually less bleeding, swelling, and scarring. Healing is quicker, and you are less likely to get an infection.

Several different types of lasers are used to treat skin cancers, including the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser.

What To Expect

The wound will be painful for a few days after laser surgery. Healing usually occurs in 2 to 4 weeks. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions for caring for your wound.

Why It Is Done

Laser surgery may be used to treat an actinic keratosis, and in rare cases, low-risk basal cell carcinoma.

How Well It Works

Laser surgery is an effective treatment for actinic keratosis.^{footnote 1}

If laser surgery is used to treat basal cell skin carcinomas, it should only be used for low-risk cancers.^{footnote 2} While laser surgery may work well for these types of cancer, it may not remove all of the cancer and prevent it from coming back.

Risks

There is a slight risk of infection associated with laser surgery. Be sure to call your doctor if you have any of these signs of infection:

• Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat.
• Red streaks extending from the area.
• Discharge of pus.
• Fever of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or higher with no other cause.