Laser Surgery

When a child suffers from health issues including brain tumors or epilepsy from other conditions, the notion of brain surgery can seem immensely frightening. Parents have every right to be afraid at the thought of their child having to go through any type of surgery, including brain surgery. Fortunately, Dr. William G. Loudon specializes in pediatric neurosurgery and has the necessary knowledge and experience to perform a variety of procedures.

If you are interested in laser surgery for your child, do not hesitate to give us a call at 714-677-9463 and schedule a consultation today. We will examine your child’s health and determine the best treatment option. Here are a few questions that people commonly ask about laser surgery.

What is laser surgery?

Laser surgery involves the use of a highly-powered medical laser to harness light in order to remove tumors and lesions from the brain. Also known as laser ablation surgery, this technique is becoming more popular for treating health issues all over the body. Laser surgery allows the neurosurgeon to be much more precise in removing the tumor or medical issue.

How does it work?

The neurosurgeon will be able to use the laser to treat the precise cells in the brain that are causing issues without needing to extensively use a scalpel or other traditional surgical tools. The neurosurgeon has a type of camera that allows him or her to see exactly what they are doing during the surgery. This way, the neurosurgeon can be extremely precise during the procedure. By using the laser to target the specific tissue that is damaging the brain, the neurosurgeon can ensure that it does not continue to pose a health risk to the child.

Will my child feel any pain during or after?

The child will be under anesthesia for the procedure and will not feel any pain. Another reason we use anesthesia is that the child must remain still during the procedure. Following the procedure, the child may feel a little sore and will return home about a day after the procedure.

Is it better than other traditional forms of surgery?

The short answer is yes. With laser surgery, we can be much more precise in our treatment and prevent damage to other nearby tissue. We can target the lesion with little to no issue and prevent any damage to the child’s body.

What are the benefits to laser surgery?

Along with preventing the damage to tissue in the child’s brain, laser surgery will help promote faster recovery times. Laser surgery may only need a small incision that usually requires one stitch to close. Better than that, the child’s recovery time will be quicker than traditional means since the laser surgery itself will only be a few minutes.

How long will the procedure take?

While the actual operation of laser surgery may only take a few minutes, the preparation and steps leading up to that point will take longer. Overall, it can take 4 hours or more. It will all depend on the child’s current condition and the issue we are treating.