What is laser surgery?

Laser surgery is a procedure that uses laser light to remove birthmarks, wrinkles, hair, diseased tissue or to correct bleeding blood vessels, according to the United States National Institutes of Health's MedlinePlus. Laser surgery can also be used on the eyes to correct errors in how the eye focuses light.

Laser surgery works by focusing the light on a small area to heat it until the cells burst. There are several different types of lasers and they can use different colored lights. The color used will depend on the patient's skin color and the surgery being performed. Laser surgery carries some risks, notes the National Institutes of Health, including scarring, pain and infection.