What impact does a larger spot size have during a laser treatment?

A larger spot size during laser treatment primarily reduces treatment time. This is because a larger spot size allows for a greater area of tissue to be treated in a single pass of the laser. As a result, fewer passes are needed to cover the entire treatment area, leading to a more efficient procedure. Additionally, with the ability to treat a larger area at once, the overall duration of the treatment session can be significantly decreased, making it more convenient for both the practitioner and the patient.

Moreover, while larger spot sizes can potentially affect other aspects such as pain levels or the precision of treatment, those factors do not directly contribute to the primary benefit of reduced treatment time. Typically, larger spot sizes can result in more superficial penetration, which in some contexts might not be as precise for targeting specific structures. However, it is important to note that this does not mean that the effectiveness of treatment is compromised across all applications; the context of the treatment and the specific clinical goals often dictate the optimal spot size to be used.