Sitagita.com asked:


Removal of unwanted hair is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in recent years for women as well as for an increasing number of men. While most of us have a reasonable amount of body hair growth, there are few cases such as pregnancy, menopause and hormonal imbalance when many women face the problem of excessive hair growth. Today there is an eternal quest amongst young women to have smooth arms and legs always and they are looking for ways to reduce the hassle of hair removal on a regular basis. Thus more and more women are opting for high-tech procedures like intense pulsed light and laser hair removal solutions, that offer more permanent and longer lasting results as compared to traditional methods like waxing, depilation, epilation and shaving.

Using Light To Remove Hair

Laser hair removal systems gently remove unwanted hair. While dermatologic surgeons continue to research the exact science of laser hair removal, it appears that the light energy causes thermal injury to the hair follicle. This occurs because the laser is converted into heat as it passes through the skin and is absorbed in the target pigment melanin found in the hair follicle. When the temperature reaches a high enough level in a hair follicle during its active phase, the targeted hair structures are disabled, thus inhibiting hair re-growth. In clinical trials to date using a number of different lasers and intense pulsed light hair removal systems, some test sites remained hair-free for up to 2 years.

Benefits of Laser Treatment

Laser hair removal is a non-invasive method of photoepilation, which does not require needles or messy chemical creams. Since thousands of hairs can be zapped in a single treatment session, large areas like the back, shoulders, arms and legs can be effectively and efficiently treated. Says Dr Mukta Sachdev, a Bangalore-based dermatologist, “Today it is a popular method of banishing body hair especially from areas like upper lip, bikini line and face. While it may leave the skin a bit sensitive, but for women with heavy ****** hair, laser hair removal treatment offers a long term and painless relief. Also there is no embarrassment of stubble and ingrown hair which traditional hair removal methods cause.”

Going For Laser

While laser hair removal is an excellent treatment option, research efforts continue to enhance the procedure. Although permanent hair removal is the goal of therapy, some women do experience hair regrowth that is usually finer and lighter in color. In addition, long-lasting laser hair removal typically requires multiple treatments, which can make it a more costly hair removal alternative. “There is a possibility of side effects like damage to the surrounding healthy tissue in the form of scars, burns, redness and swelling. But this is a rare case. Women with darker skin tone also need to be careful when going for this treatment. They must consult an expert in the field before opting for this. But overall laser hair removal offers an excellent option to women who have heavy body hair growth,” concludes Dr Sachdev.

Anurag Golash asked:


Erectile dysfunction is a well recognized complication of the standard treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or the enlarged prostate. Approximately 10 per cent of patients who have a TURP are left with erectile dysfunction as a result of the procedure.

This is a considerable risk for patients. Although the majority of patients I see with BPH are 65 and above, I do see a number of patients in their fifties. These patients often decide against surgery – even if it means they have to live with symptoms of BPH – because they do not want to risk a complication which would have a major impact on their lives.

Equally, for some patients in the older age group, erectile dysfunction is very important.

At The Prostate Laser Centre, we discuss risks and complications very thoroughly with patients before the procedure. In some cases, patients may be focused on dealing with the symptoms and less concerned about complications pre-operatively. But post-op, once the patient starts to recover, complications can become a major source of anxiety.

This is one reason why Green Light Laser treatment is such an important development. The Green Light Laser provides a high powered, safe and precise means of destroying surplus tissue by vaporising selected areas. By contrast, during TURP, surplus prostate tissue is burnt by electrical currents.

The nerves which control ********* are located just at the side of the prostate. During TURP, ******** problem can possibly happen due to these nerves being damaged from the heat of the electrical current. The current can be fairly indiscriminating in terms of the areas it targets.

The Green Light Laser is far more targeted. Even though it is so powerful that surplus tissue is immediately vaporised, it does not penetrate deep into the tissue. Hence it is believed that it minimizes the risks of erectile dysfunction. In my experience, I have not yet seen ******** problems developing after green light laser therapy.

Although Green Light Laser treatment is a relatively new development in the UK, it is well established in America and parts of Europe. A total of 200,000 procedures have been undertaken worldwide. A major study* showed there is a 1 per cent rate of erectile dysfunction following Green Light Laser treatment, compared with 10 per cent for TURP.

A very common side effect after TURP is known as retrograde ejaculation. This means during orgasm, ***** passes into the bladder rather than out through the *****. The ***** is then voided the next time urine is passed. Retrograde ejaculation is not harmful and for many men it is not problematic, although it does result in less sexual satisfaction and infertility. The risk of retrograde ejaculation following TURP is high, up to 90 per cent. The figures for retrograde ejaculation following Green Light Laser are much lower, at between 29 and 41 per cent.

In conclusion, Green Light Laser offers patients the same result as TURP – rapid relief from the symptoms of BPH. However, with Green Light Laser, this is achieved with much reduced side-effects and complications. These benefits for the patient must be recognised.

* Yakupoglu YK, Donmezer S, Mestci B, Saglam R, Simsek US. Successful treatment of BPH over 100 ml with KTP laser. J Urol 2006 May;175(4 suppl.):463 abstract 1522.