Can laser cut into human flesh?

While it is true that lasers can cut into human tissue, it is essential to note that this refers explicitly to CO2 CW steel cutting/welding lasers. These lasers have been utilized in the medical field to remove tumours due to their ability to stop bleeding after the incision. On the other hand, UV lasers are the preferred choice for eye surgeons as they can cut organic human tissue. The cleaning lasers utilized are primarily Infra Red pulsed lasers, inherently less problematic than their continuous wave (CW) counterparts. This is because infrared laser light can easily be transmitted through a flexible glass fibre rather than relying on mirrors like CO2 lasers.

Additionally, human skin does not absorb this type of radiation well, except for darker-coloured hairs or tattoos on the skin. The inks used in tattoos are usually heavy metal-based, so when exposed to the laser, the chemicals boil and evaporate in the skin tissue and blood vessels. While an infrared pulsed cleaning laser cannot cut through fingers, it can cause significant burning wounds if held in one spot for an extended period.