LASER THEORY

Many advanced countries have developed extensive use of laser technology in medicine. New methods have been created of addressing the many health problems arising in everyday life. It is very difficult now to imagine progress in medicine without laser technology. The use of laser innovations in clinical practice is quite widespread. And in Azerbaijan, this form of treatment has also established itself. The MediLaz laser centre, which has been operating in Baku since 2008, uses almost all three main branches of laser medicine: surgery, therapy and diagnostics. Does Azerbaijan need a broader use of laser technology in medicine today? Definitely yes, said Rasid Badalov, director of the MediLaz centre, Doctor of Medical Sciences and an academician of the Russian Academy of Laser, in conversation with R+.

Bloodless medicine

Laser technology helps people in different life situations. It is used in virtually all areas of modern medical, surgical and aesthetic medicine, allowing for painless, effective treatment. "Laser surgery is one of the most advanced achievements of world medicine today; it makes it possible to carry out delicate operations that were previously impossible, some of them without anaesthesia or unnecessarily traumatic intervention - the cutting of healthy tissue," says Rasid Badalov.

However, like many other areas of medicine, laser medicine in Azerbaijan is still at a stage of development. "In many clinics, it is present, as a rule, only as one laser device. This suggests that there is a positive development in the field of laser medicine in the country. With regard to the MediLaz medical centre, we have almost all types of modern laser devices and, in this respect, our centre, we can say, is the only specialized private medical institution in the field of laser medicine. For example, today MediLaz has such devices as carbon, neodymium, helium-neon, the totally unique yellow-green, arsenide-gallium devices, semiconductor lasers and others. We are working effectively in the field of aesthetic medicine, cosmetology, endocrinosurgery, vascular pathology, gynaecology, laser therapy for diseases of the heart, liver, pancreas and ear, nose and throat, i.e. in areas where laser light has proved its efficiency," the academician told us.

Dr. Badalov admits that many are somewhat cautious about the use of laser radiation to treat diseases as they think that it is risky. This is due to the fact that the word "radiation" is associated with the well-known word "radioactive". However, laser radiation is a completely different field of physics - quantum physics. In essence, laser medicine is based on the use of the properties of electromagnetic radiation and their effects on biological tissue. This therapy uses the ability of laser technology to influence the body at cellular level. Unlike chemical drugs, medical lasers do not have unwanted side effects and have a selective effect on the human body. Lasers have no age contraindications and do not cause addiction to treatment. They cannot destroy the molecular structure of cells and are only able to heat them and, at high power, L-rays begin to vaporize tissue, which is the surgical characteristic of lasers.

However, despite the popularity and widespread use of lasers, there have been no significant developments in world medicine in this area over the last 15-20 years, said Dr. Badalov. One of the recent achievements is the anti-aging procedure that is carried out with fraxel laser. "I think manufacturers exaggerate the effectiveness of rejuvenating procedures with fraxel lasers. I take the liberty of having a critical approach to those widely advertised appliances, because I work with people and am responsible for the procedures conducted in the clinic. Participation in many international medical exhibitions gives me the right to assert that, for a cost of up to 150,000 euros, the results produced by these machines leave much to be desired. Therefore, all innovations in laser medicine should be treated with great caution," considers the head of the medical centre. Of course, there is no need to blindly believe the manufacturer's advertising. The physician is responsible for these procedures to the patient who receives appropriate treatment. The laser is a tool and a tool can be good in the hands of a specialist and bad in the hands of an amateur. Thus, before making a decision, it is necessary to talk to your doctor, to gather information about him and ensure that he is competent. This is done all over the world. In our situation, when specialists in the field of laser medicine can be counted on the fingers, especially those working not just with one but with many types of laser devices, it is important to find out about the physician. It takes a doctor and a clinic years to develop a positive image. He has to treat his patients like his own family. Only in this way can he achieve success in the treatment of patients," says the doctor.

Demand generates supply

Today the MediLaz clinic performs complex etiotropic treatment using laser light. Some types of treatment are carried out only by laser, for example, the elimination of a vascular mesh on the face or, in another area, the capillaries and hemangioma. A laser facelift is quite popular worldwide today. By the way, it is quite an effective rejuvenating procedure, eliminating unsuccessful tattoos and grinding scars, which often look quite ugly, on the face or the body. The clinic is quite experienced in the field of otorhinolaryngology. "Just imagine, large glands are often removed today, which leaves the body without immunity, and we restore the function of the organ in a single session of laser sanitization. Or take the eternal problem of nasal congestion - just one session of laser treatment, short term rehabilitation, and the patient parts with the problem that has tormented him for years. Furthermore, laser radiation is good at treating polyps, adenoids, pharyngitis, and is used in operations to eliminate snoring and so on," said Badalov.

The centre successfully treats skin diseases, for example, the well-known blackheads and "pimples". You can get rid of papilloma, xanthelasma palpebrarum, warts or pigmentary marks. Laser removes various hypertrophic and keloid scars. In chronic diseases of the heart, liver, pancreas and the bronchiopulmonary system, laser irradiation of the blood is carried out, which improves the quality of treatment. Laser technology is also successfully used in gynaecology - a single vaporization of the erosion or pseudo-erosion of the cervix leads to healing in women. Anti-aging laser surgery, blepharoplasty, medium facelifts, small liposuction, contour plastic surgery and radiolifting are carried out - a new trend in which skin collagen formation is stimulated and blood is cleansed. The anti-cellulite programme, ozone liposuction and mesotherapy are very well-developed. None of these operations require hospital treatment and are carried out under local anaesthesia, i.e. you come, get the service and leave.

Rasid Badalov is convinced that if there is demand, there should be supply as well. Consequently, there should be more services in the field of laser medicine in the country. "For example, ophthalmology is the first area of medicine in which a laser device was applied successfully. And today, lasers are almost always used for vision correction. After just the 5-7 seconds which the operation takes, you can take off your glasses. This is a miracle. Work on the retina in retinopathy: What else can replace a laser beam? Laser facelifts and laser rejuvenation are incomparable for their results with other types of aesthetic procedures. Of course, this area should be developed in Azerbaijan and the population should be provided with correct information," the doctor emphasizes.

The main disadvantage of laser medicine is the expensive machinery. The maintenance and replacement of defective parts is expensive. The cost of the device and its maintenance sets the cost of a particular procedure. "By the way, we should admit that laser medicine cures, but not everything. I think that it should be used where there is already a good effect - there is no need to use a sledge-hammer to crack a nut." The advantage of using laser medical devices is that these are modern, high-precision tools which, if used correctly, yield very good results, and in order to remove any marks, for example, on the face, you cannot be successful with anything but laser.