Laser Assisted Drug Delivery
Administering medication and getting the most out of medical drugs is a priority for surgeons looking to help their patients get the best results from any surgical or non-surgical procedure. Laser-assisted drug delivery (LADD), a revolutionary new technique, is rapidly growing in popularity as a way of administering medications through the skin.
Here, Dr. Jose Barrera of San Antonio, Texas, discusses laser-assisted drug delivery in San Antonio, examining the technology in detail so you and other patients can understand its potential benefits. You can learn more about the procedure by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Barrera.
What is Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery (LADD)?
A rapidly growing technique, LADD is a non-invasive technique that uses laser energy to enhance a patient’s skin’s permeability. This facilitates the faster, more efficient delivery of medications, improving price margins and also results. The process involves the following steps:
A carefully calibrated laser is applied to the skin, creating microscopic channels or pores. This process, known as laser ablation, modifies the skin’s outermost layer. This outer layer is the primary barrier to topical applications, and by temporarily modifying it, making it more “permeable,” LADD helps increase the uptake and effectiveness of topical medications and agents.
Following the laser treatment, a topical medication is applied to the skin. These drug molecules can now penetrate the skin more easily through the microscopic channels created by the laser.
Once the medication has been applied, it is absorbed into the targeted tissues or bloodstream, where it can exert its intended effects on the patient’s skin or body.
Currently, LADD is non-FDA approved; however, as the procedure continues to grow in popularity, it is likely it will receive an FDA stamp within the next few years.