Birthmark Removal

What are Birthmark?

Birthmarks are a common type of discoloration that appear on your skin at birth or during the first few weeks of life. They’re usually noncancerous.

They can occur anywhere on your face or body. Birthmarks vary in color, size, appearance, and shape. Some are permanent and may get larger over time. Others fade away completely. Most birthmarks are harmless, but some indicate an underlying medical condition. In some instances, birthmarks may be removed for cosmetic reasons.

What causes a Birthmark?

You may have heard tales connecting birthmarks to unmet food cravings, but that’s a myth. Birthmarks are not caused by anything that a pregnant woman does or doesn’t do during her pregnancy. The underlying reason why birthmarks form is unknown. skin such as moles may occur later on in life but aren’t considered birthmarks.

Birthmark Types

Vascular birthmarks occur if blood vessels in a particular area of your skin don’t form the way they should. For example, there may be too many blood vessels clustered in one area or the blood vessels may be wider than they should be.
Pigmented birthmarks occur when there’s an overabundance of pigment cells in one area. Pigment cells are what give your skin its natural color.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s involved during the treatment?

During your consultation, we will assess the birthmark and which treatment option is best for the goals you’re trying to reach. We will answer any questions or concerns that you have.

Is the procedure painful?

Most people say it is slightly painful but so fast that they barely noticed it, though pain is based on each individual’s experiences. People describe it as a small rubber band snapping. Following the procedure, you may feel like you have a mild sunburn or warm feeling, which normally goes away within 1 to 24 hours. We have other treatments available for birthmark removal. Ask us about different options during your consultation.

Will it be completely gone?

Our goal is to remove them completely but we have to be realistic with goals and expectations. The main purpose of Birthmark Removal is to significantly lighten them, at least 70% to 90%. That truly makes a dramatic difference.

How many treatments will I need?

Lasers are designed to treat you with a small series of sessions rather than having downtime with surgery. You may need anywhere from two or more treatments. Everyone has different skin types and goals. We will customize each individual’s treatment plan accordingly.

Is there any downtime?

There is no downtime following the procedure. Resuming daily activities is okay. You may feel warm and swollen temporarily. The area may have crusting, swelling, bruising, scabbing and tenderness. This is normal and if you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to call.

Is there an age limit?

We can treat a child with an adult present and with their consent. Make sure the mark, tag, etc. is really bothering the child before you decide.

Will a birthmark return after treatment?

Most birthmarks do not return. But there are certain types of pigmented lesions that can return over the course of several months to a year. If this happens, you can do another treatment and it will fade or disappear again. We will provide the correct aftercare specialized for your procedure.

What happens after the birthmark is removed?

After we remove your birthmark, there’s a possibility of whitening around the area or even small bruising. This is normal and is expected because of the laser’s effect on the birthmark. It fades quickly, and your birthmark will fade with the discoloration through absorption or exfoliation. Most notice at least slight improvement.

Refrain from smoking (including marijuana), steroids, or heavy alcohol consumption during healing.

Are there chances of complications?

There is a chance of a complication with any medical procedure, however with this type of non-invasive treatment, you will not notice major complications. The most common side effects are bruising, redness, swelling and possibly increased pigmentation. Other side effects are out of our control, such as how clean you keep the area, refrain from sun exposure or picking at it. These reactions decrease over time.

Is birthmark removal covered by insurance?

Usually cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurances, if you are worried about the birthmark being cancerous, we suggest getting a check-up by your family physician and consider getting a Basal Scrape Carcinoma test.

Can I get my birthmark removed if I’m pregnant?

Although there is no clinical evidence that reports lasers for this treatment are harmful to the fetus, we recommend that you wait until after your child is born.

Can all pigmented birthmarks be treated by lasers?

Not every birthmark can be treated this way but many have good results. It’s best to come in for a consult to examine the area to provide the best assessment and realistic outcomes.