Blog Ablative Laser Treatment for Superficial Skin Cancer: A Minimally Invasive Alternative to Surgery

Ablative Laser Treatment for Superficial Skin Cancer: A Minimally Invasive Alternative to Surgery

Surgery is not always the only — or necessarily the best — treatment option for skin cancer. While surgery remains the gold standard for many high-risk lesions, it may sometimes be associated with longer downtime, more scarring, and higher risk of complications depending on the location and size of the cancer.

After careful assessment and discussion of all available treatment options, suitable patients who choose laser treatment undergo a straightforward in-room procedure. The skin is first cleansed thoroughly, and local anaesthetic is used to make the area completely numb, ensuring a comfortable and pain-free experience.

The lesion is then carefully marked with an appropriate safety margin. In thicker or more bulky lesions, surgical curettage is first performed to gently remove the abnormal cancerous tissue before laser treatment begins. The ablative laser is then used to precisely vaporise the remaining abnormal cells layer by layer while preserving as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible.

An additional advantage of ablative laser treatment is its ability to coagulate and seal tiny blood vessels feeding the lesion, helping control bleeding while also disrupting the nutritional blood supply to the abnormal tissue.

Once the treatment is completed, the area is covered with antibiotic ointment and a protective dressing is applied. Most procedures are relatively quick and associated with minimal downtime.

At SKEEN, we routinely review our laser-treated patients approximately three months after treatment using dermoscopic examination to ensure there is no evidence of residual or recurrent skin cancer.

At SKEEN, our goal is not only to effectively treat skin cancer, but also to protect your skin, minimise downtime, and achieve the best possible cosmetic outcome whenever appropriate.