Even though laser technology has been available for over 30 years, it has been only within the past 10–15 years that its applications have been exploited extensively for cosmetic surgical procedures. The expansion of laser technologies and applications is in part due to an improved knowledge of laser-tissue interaction, which has resulted in the development of many new and improved laser systems. With the large number of laser systems currently available, every cosmetic surgeon should have a working knowledge of the basic concepts of lasers, laser-tissue interactions, and the capabilities and limitations of each system, in order to maximize the potential benefits of laser systems in patient care.
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