Which anticoagulants are safe with laser procedures?

Dr. Irwin
July 16, 2013
My mother wants to be treated for facial wrinkles with a CO2 fractional laser (DEKA smartxide 2). I want to know which classes of anticoaguants are safe to be used and which are to be suspended, and when. (and do you know the anticoagulant PRADAXA?). Thank you for your informations!

Glad you asked this! I’ll give you an idea of what we do and why but I still want you to check with your mother’s doctor on this also. He/she might have information that’s important.

If your mother is considering a fractionated laser like the ones above, then none of the anticoagulants are a problem, in my opinion. And, we have done many, many fractionated lasers on patients who have been on them. Here’s why.

 

All of the fractionated lasers, in some patients, will cause temporary pinpoints (tiny dots) of bleeding which crust over but do not continue to bleed. This is considered normal for these lasers and does not cause any problem with healing in itself. Patients who are taking anticoagulants and cannot stop them for health reasons do just fine. They just have a little more pinpoint bleeding for a day or two longer. In itself, this does not cause any problem with healing or the results of the laser.

 

NEVER stop an anticoagulant being recommended for health reasons without discussing with your primary care doctor or cardiologist.  

 

Also, (this does not apply to the older), ablative but not fractionated CO2 lasers which are not used as much now, but it’s important to make sure which type it is.  

 

Hope this helps,

Dr. B I

 

Learn more about fractionated CO2 lasers. 

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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