Interesting facts about laser therapy

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Which laser therapies are covered for by the health insurance?

One has to distinguish between medical requirement for treatment and a cosmetic option. Private health insurance companies mostly absorb the costs for all medically needed treatments.

The statutory health insurance (state/government insurance) covers only costs for medically required treatments after application for approval. The statutory health insurance has already got an accounting code for the treatment of haemangioma (strawberry mark) and port-wine stains. Laser specialists mostly decline to administer those treatments due to the marginal remuneration they receive from the statutory health insurance. We decided that we would still like to be able to offer those treatments to our patients against the set, marginal remuneration settlement for the first treatment.

Distinguishing between a medical need as opposed to a cosmetic procedure is not always easy. We would be glad to assist you in this matter and advise you if and when a special request for cost reimbursement is possible.

You would receive a receipted bill for every treatment you undergo for which we have not yet received a written consent for cost reimbursement. You may then present the receipted bill at your medical health insurance company for refund of costs. Please be advised that only a written consent for cost reimbursement is a certainty; confirmations of cost refund over the phone are unreliable for all concerned.

How much does laser therapy cost?

This question has no one standard answer. Most decisive and informative is a personal patient-doctor meeting. We do not administer treatments that are, from a medical-aesthetic view point, questionable or have little prospect for success.

A lot of patients are unfamiliar with the treatment method and wish to get a picture of the treatment success, in advance. We are pleased to offer those patients a trial treatment session that is administered on an inconspicuous part of the body, like: mole excision. The patient may decide after a 6 week period if the treatment is satisfactory. A positive result motivates the patient to undertake the treatment originally intended on a larger part of the body. Our standard medical fee for the trial treatment session, including the preliminary consultation, photo(s) and result documentation is Euro 50-. This amount is set-off future invoices should the patient decide to continue the treatment.

Is laser therapy a suitable treatment for varices and spider veins?

The treatment of Varices and spider veins is determined by several factors: the stage they are in, the diameter and colour of the enlarged veins. A combination of treatments is often the answer.

Is laser therapy effective for the removal of moles/birthmarks or age spots?

The removal of age spots or senile warts with our laser technology is very effective and implies hardly any side effects. There is no medical risk involved in this treatment.

On the other hand, the treatment of moles or birthmarks is a more sensitive issue. We conduct a skin-cancer screening before commencing any treatment. Harmless moles can be removed by the laser and leaves no scars.

Questionable moles are scrutinised under the low magnification reflex microscope. The subsequent assessment of the results are based on the ABCD rule of dermatoscopy [index]. We recommend the conventional surgical method in the case of the slightest suspicion of benign moles.

Is the treatment painful?

There are several anaesthetising options against painful treatment procedures. We always take your wishes into account as long as they are medically justifiable. Our wide range of anaesthetising options include: precooling, icing, anaesthetising cremes, local anaesthetic injections or oral, advanced intake of pain killers.

How frequent is the laser treatment for tattoo excision?

The frequency and number of sessions required to remove a tattoo is determined by the number and depth of the colours involved; the more there are, the longer it takes. Generally speaking, professional tattoos need to be lasered more frequently than amateur tattoos. Amateur-ink-tattoos are removed after an average of 1 to 2 sessions. Professional tattoos require an average of 4 to 10 sessions.

Would I be able to work after a treatment?

You would be able to work normally after any and all treatments that we administer. Even after the removal of a mole or senile wart from the face, you would be able to take a shower the very next day and may chose to use the make-up you get from us to cover the red or scabbed area. In the case of a tattoo removal, you would normally get an after-care creme and, in the worst case scenario, a plaster for a few days. Following a varicose or spider vein excision, you get to wear a bandage for a few days around the treated area and are free to move and/or work as usual. Following depilation treatments, one hardly sees any traces anymore the next day by over 90% of the cases. Otherwise, and in rare cases, one may expect 1-2 days of skin redness.

Would I be able to drive after a treatment or would I need an escort?

You will be notified during the preliminary consultation prior to a major procedure if the administration of medication that may limit your response or reaction abilities is expected.