Removal of the birthmark by laser
What are the reasons for removal?
The reason for surgical removal of the birthmark is that the removed birthmark can then be examined histologically for malignancy or degeneration. The disadvantage of this method is that a scar usually develops afterwards. Laser birthmark removal, on the other hand, offers the possibility of removing the birthmark largely painlessly and without scarring.
This is particularly useful in visible areas of the skin, such as the face or décolleté. As a rule, no local anesthesia is necessary. The laser can be adapted to the circumstances and the special requirements.
The intensity, wavelength, pulse duration and pulse frequency in particular influence the interaction with the tissue. These interactions often consist of thermal effects such as simple heating of the tissue, ablation, i.e. vaporization or deflagration of the tissue, or chemical changes. This property is especially used in the context of photodynamic therapy.
Due to the heat of laser birthmark treatment, the birthmark is superficially burned. Thus it is removed without leaving a scar. However, histological examination is no longer possible after the laser treatment because the tissue has been completely destroyed.
Furthermore, the laser beams do not penetrate deep enough into the tissue to ensure the necessary safety distance in the depth, should the process be degenerated. For this reason, laser birthmark treatment is only used for purely cosmetic birthmark removal. The laser treatment itself is usually very short, a treatment time of about 5 minutes per mole can be expected. After the laser treatment it is important to protect the treated area from sunlight or infection. Otherwise scarring cannot be excluded.
Costs of birthmark removal
Many patients have the desire to have their moles lasered, but are not informed about the costs. Because the exact cost of having a birthmark lasered is not uniform and varies depending on size, texture and malignancy (malice). Also decisive is the number of birthmarks the patient wants to have lasered.
If a patient wants to have the birthmark lasered for cosmetic reasons, for example because the birthmark is located in an unfavorable place on the face or décolleté, this is not covered by the health insurance, as it is not a medically necessary procedure. Accordingly, the patient has to pay 50-70 € depending on the doctor and the size and nature of the birthmark. If further birthmarks are to be removed, the costs often decrease slightly and to laser the remaining birthmarks, the costs sometimes only amount to 20-50 €.
These costs are not fixed costs, but can vary from patient to patient. Especially smaller moles can be lasered for the costs of 20 €. At the same time, it is possible that patients who have a conspicuous birthmark which restricts or burdens them enormously in their everyday life, can have this birthmark lasered without having to bear the costs.
As soon as it is a medically justified use, the statutory health insurance has to cover the costs of the birthmark laser. The dermatologist alone decides when the removal of a birthmark by laser becomes a medical and not a cosmetic indication, and he or she must justify the use of the laser to the health insurance company. As soon as it is a birthmark which appears to be malignant, the birthmark is not lasered and therefore the costs are not covered by the health insurance company. In this case, however, the health insurance company will cover the costs for cutting out and examining the birthmark.
