Treatment of a Hemangioma on the Lower Lip – Case #1
Zafer Kazak.
Laser in Dentistry. 2009.
The patient was referred to us by their GP to treat a hemangioma on the lip due to the patient’s aesthetic concerns. It was the first time the patient underwent any kind of laser treatment. The treatment of a hemangioma on the lower lip is usually more of an aesthetic treatment, although there is always a risk of excessive bleeding should the lesion be accidentally bitten. We opt to use Nd:YAG laser in our practice to treat these type of lesions, because of the laser’s wavelength’s ideal absorption characteristics. Nd:YAG targets hemoglobin while leaving the surrounding tissue unscathed, which is particularly important when working on the lips. We find that this in combination with the speed and ease of the treatment give the Nd:YAG laser treatment significant advantages over more conventional treatment methods such as sclerotherapy, excision, cauterization and cryotherapy. We do not use anesthesia, although to limit any excessive thermal effects we do shoot the laser through an ice cube. Using the parameters below, we applied the Nd:YAG laser three times for a one-minute period and with 1-minute intervals. During the treatment the lesion can be clearly seen shrinking and disappearing. Anesthesia was not required during any of the procedures. Three weeks after the Nd:YAG procedure we used the Er:YAG laser in our AT Fidelis system to remove the coagulated tissue and obtain a better post-op aesthetic effect. No specific post treatment care was required.