A hemangioma is a type of benign tumor that usually appears at birth or in the first weeks of an infant’s life and may range in size, shape, and location. Although often harmless, some may require cosmetic or medical treatment if they cause health or aesthetic problems.
In recent years, Turkey has become one of the main destinations for treating hemangiomas, thanks to the great medical and technological developments it has witnessed and the extensive experience of Turkish doctors in this field.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about hemangioma treatment in Turkey, including available treatment options, the best medical centers, expected costs, and patient experiences.
What is a hemangioma in adults or children (vasculitis)?
Vascular hemangiomas are vascular diseases that result from the accumulation of blood vessels in a specific location. They are common among infants and are called hemangiomas.
These birthmarks may increase in size or may cause bleeding over time, so the patient must undergo treatment as soon as possible.
Most hemangiomas appear red on the surface of the patient’s skin or pinkish-red if they are close to the skin’s surface.
But when it is deep, its color appears close to bluish.
These swellings are considered a benign tumor.
The hands, head, face, abdomen, chest, and back are the most common places for hemangiomas to appear.
Birthmarks are caused by a protein being mutated during the fetus’s development in the womb.
New studies have shown that female children are more susceptible to birthmarks.
Treating deformed birthmarks requires performing a biopsy to find out the cause that led to the appearance of vasculitis, or what is called the birthmark.
In most cases, these birthmarks disappear within two years of birth on their own or through the use of drug treatments without leaving any scar or trace.
But sometimes, it may continue to grow, which may require treatment with injections or lasers.
Birthmarks Treatment in Infants
- Port-wine stains: A bloody birthmark that usually appears as a spot at or after birth and has a russet-like color, hence its name.
- Strawberry birthmark: It is one of the common types of hemangiomas.
- Angel Kiss: It is a small vascular birthmark that appears especially on the forehead, and sometimes, it may be in the form of a birthmark on the scalp.
- Venus nevus: It is in the form of spots spread on the skin.
- Stork nevus: A temporary birthmark that usually appears on the neck. It is also called salmon nevus.
- Birthmarks that appear on internal organs: They are most often seen in the liver and can be treated if necessary with the help of interventional radiology using a catheter.
To treat birthmarks in children, a dermatologist or vascular specialist must examine the patient to determine the type of birthmark and the optimal treatment.
Hemangioma treatment in children
In general, hemangiomas continue to disappear until a certain age, but in cases where hemangiomas continue to grow, the patient must then perform some tests to determine the type of birthmark and determine the best way to treat it, as it is common for the patient to be injected with a hypodermic needle in the area of the birthmark, which gives This method has good results, and the duration and number of sessions vary depending on the size of the birthmark.
On the other hand, laser treatment is one of the best and most reliable methods, but it is generally used for birthmarks located at the level of the skin, that is, superficial birthmarks. Exposing the affected area to laser rays during one session is sufficient, and it may require several sessions for the birthmark to be completely treated.
Laser is the preferred method among doctors and patients alike because the patient does not need to undergo surgery, and there are no risks or side effects of treatment.
Surgical method of treating hemangioma
It is applied in cases where treatment with previous methods is ineffective. Unfortunately, it causes problems in children as they age. The effect varies according to the size of the birthmark and the area that must be treated through surgery.
Treatment of hemangiomas with laser (Pulsed Dye Laser birthmark removal) (IPL).
This method is applicable to superficial birthmarks; the targeted vessels must be at the skin level, and the heat generated by the laser is used to treat hemangiomas.
The good thing is that these rays do not cause any harmful effects where they are applied.
The doctor determines in advance the area that should be targeted by the laser. The affected vessels absorb the thermal energy generated by the laser, causing a cauterization process in the areas where the hemangioma has spread. Within 10 to 15 sessions, the birthmark gradually diminishes until it disappears completely.
According to a study conducted on the possibility of successful treatment in superficial birthmarks, if treatment is started early, 25.9% of patients achieved a 100% cure, and 41.1% showed an improvement of 76% to 99%.
Harmful effects of laser birthmark removal
So far, no side effects have been discovered with this device.
Treating a strawberry birthmark by hardening the blood vessels at the site of the birthmark, or what is known as treatment of hemangiomas with injections
The capillaries are injected with a medicinal substance that causes hardening of the affected blood vessels in the presence of ultrasound radiation. This substance softens the abnormal blood vessels and destroys them without any risk of blood bleeding in any of the healthy vessels.
Hemangioma treatment in Turkey with foam medications
A foaming agent is used for this method. This substance is placed in a special container, and foam is generated, drawn out, and injected using a special syringe into the birthmark area. This substance gradually destroys the vessels causing the birthmark, causing these vessels to gradually dry out and the natural color of the skin to return over time.
Treatment of red birthmarks using IRC technology (infrared coagulation technology)
Infrared rays cause coagulation in the affected vessels due to the high heat carried by infrared rays.
Which causes the vessels causing the birthmark to be destroyed and gradually disappear over time.
Since the effect appears immediately after applying the treatment, as the color of the targeted area changes from red to purple and then white immediately, one or two beams of infrared rays are applied with an effect circle with a diameter of 6 to 7 mm in each beam.
Infrared rays are applied in the presence of a protector to prevent any effect on the healthy areas around the birthmark. The application time for each radiation beam ranges between 5 to 10 seconds and may last for several minutes, depending on the size of the hemangioma.
This method is also 100% effective in cases of varicose veins, but treatment in these cases takes the patient a long time depending on the patient’s condition and cannot be performed in one session.
How do hemangiomas that cause blood nevus occur?
30% of cases appear with a birthmark at birth. The remaining percentage appears within one to four weeks after birth.
Its incidence in females is 5 times higher than in males.
The percentage also increases by 26% in newborns who are underweight. Also, 83% of cases occur in the head and neck area.
It appears in blue or red spots, and the birthmark is rarely complete at birth.
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