As a parent, you have many difficult decisions to make for your child’s welfare. That is why we want to make the decision between snipping and laser easy for you. Since we are talking about a baby, who is the most important in your whole world, it is crucial to make an informed choice and meet your little one’s needs. That is why you should understand the differences between the procedures.

We encourage you to explore all the options where the Surgeons offer scissor snipping. You should also check if the Practitioner is well versed and if he offers you complete pre, during and aftercare. Making an informed decision is very important, as the understanding of the wider Medical and even Dental Profession is still evolving. One is for sure – the assumption that all tools provide the same results is not correct. A choice of tool should be determined by the age of the child, need of general anaesthetic, the cost of the tool or what post-surgery sutures are required.

The two main approaches are to cut with scissors/scalpel or to ablate with a laser. And it’s likely that you will have to make a choice between those two.

Laser

Ablation (to remove or take away) by Laser is a process of vaporizing the tissue by heating it so that the water evaporates and remainder undergoes combustion in seconds. One of the best things about this approach is that the heating effect stops bleeding. By controlling the laser, we can minimise or even eliminate bleeding AND remove the tissue completely at the same time. No stitches, and no time waste, as a clear majority of the procedures can be done in a few minutes. Using a laser reduces the risk of infection, and may also have an analgesic effector boost wound healing, reducing pain.

Snipping

Snipping is usually undertaken with surgical scissors instead of laser. There are no cauterising or coagulating effects, and the area under the tongue is very vascular. To prevent bleeding, stitches or electrosurgery are used.

Thus, it might be impossible to fully release the tie underneath the membrane lining the mouth. When it comes to older children, it is more likely that stitches will be required. This is generally done under general anaesthetic.

When you compare Lasers with scissors, lasers do not crush or damage the tissues. The area around the laser wound will show less inflammation. At the same time, laser reduces the risk of re-attachment.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.