Question:
Can you explain what the difference is between vascular and pigmented birthmarks? Is treatment different for each?
Answer:
Vascular and pigmented birthmarks are two different types of entities. Vascular birthmarks, such as hemangiomas and port wine stains, can frequently be managed with a laser. Most hemangiomas furthermore do not need to be treated, unless they are in sensitive areas such as the eyelid or the nose. Surgery can also be utilized for hemangiomas when there is fear of distortion or injury to important structures. Pigmented birthmarks, on the other hand, are typically not treated with the laser, but instead, are either observed or removed surgically.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.