For decades, veterinary lasers offered a new way to cut tissue, but they came with steep learning curves and a long list of settings that can frustrate even experienced surgeons. Inconsistent settings and techniques from user to user resulted in inconsistent results. Today’s technology is different. Modern systems have evolved not just to cut and coagulate better, but to guide, assist, and support your work in real-time. The newest generation simplifies setup, streamlines decision-making, and helps you achieve consistent results across a wide range of procedures. For general practitioners, the impact is immediate. Smart laser surgery lowers the barrier to entry, reduces the stress that comes from choosing the “right” settings, and gives you confidence that the device is working with you, not against you. It helps the first-time user feel capable and the experienced surgeon feel even more in control. Most importantly, it delivers what matters most: reliable, repeatable outcomes for patients. Whether you are expanding your surgical offerings or simply trying to make everyday procedures smoother and more predictable, smart laser surgery puts the emphasis back where it belongs—on the patient and on optimal results. Smarter by design: How the laser now assists the surgeon Traditional CO₂ laser systems have become more powerful and efficient over the years, but they have placed the burden of interpretation — including power, spot size (the diameter of the laser beam where it cuts), and motion—entirely on the surgeon. Two clinicians could attempt the same procedure with entirely different settings and achieve very different outcomes. Smart surgery changes that dynamic by using guided, intent-based modes that assist the user in key surgical actions: making incisions, performing dissections, ablating, and marking tissue. These modes do not intend to replace surgical skills; they enhance them. Each is designed to help the clinician achieve the intended tissue effect quickly, safely, and predictably, while reducing unnecessary thermal effects and guesswork. Incision mode Every surgical success begins with a clean incision. Incision mode is for procedures that heal by primary intention—those where precise cuts and minimal thermal damage allow faster healing. In this mode, the system automatically defaults to minimal thermal effect and recommends a small spot size for maximum precision. But the question that has always challenged surgeons remains: What power should I use? Here’s where the “smart” in smart surgery earns its name. Before the first incision, the surgeon can use the system’s hand-speed analyzer, which allows them to measure their comfortable, real-world hand speed. The system captures that speed, then uses it—along with the desired tissue depth—to recommend a spot size and power range for that individual’s technique. The surgeon dials in the spot size with the adjustable tipless handpiece before making the incision (Figure 1). Figure 1. Smart surgery incision mode with recommended tip sizes and default delivery for minimal thermal effect. By pairing the recommended spot size and optimized power, smart surgery helps insure sharp, efficient, single-pass, full-thickness incisions, free from carbon or char. Photo courtesy Dr. Noel Berger This quick calibration does two things. First, it measures hand speed, one of the biggest sources of variation in laser outcomes, effectively removing guesswork from power selection. Second, it ensures the clinician is using enough power to achieve a single-pass, full-thickness incision — clean, efficient, and free from carbon or char. By pairing the correct spot size, optimized power, and steady motion, the laser minimizes time-on-tissue, protects wound margins, and creates the kind of smooth, sharp incision that sets up the rest of the surgery for success. Surgeons can proceed with confidence that the settings are optimized not just for the device, but for their individual technique. Dr. Mike Canfield marks an incision line prior to a surgery. Photo courtesy Dr. Mike Canfield Dissection mode After a clean incision, most procedures move into tissue dissection. Whether it is freeing a small mass, developing a plane in a mastectomy, or carefully sculpting the nasal passage in a stenotic nares repair, the challenge is always the same: balancing precise tissue separation with effective hemostasis. Anticipating those needs in dissection mode, the laser system defaults to parameters that prioritize maximum hemostasis, preserving a clear field of vision. The interface suggests an ideal spot size for dissection, and once again, the hand-speed analyzer is there if needed—this time tuned specifically for dissection (Figure 2). Figure 2. In dissection mode, the smart surgery laser defaults to parameters that prioritize maximum hemostasis, preserving a clear field of vision. By combining motion matched power delivery with optimized spot size, the system enables smooth tissue separation with maximum visibility of tissue planes. Photo courtesy Dr. Ray Arza By combining motion-matched power delivery with optimized spot size, the system enables smooth tissue separation with maximum hemostasis. From the removal of superficial masses to complex resections, the result is enhanced dissection visibility, reduced instrument clutter, and faster progress through the surgical field. Ablation mode Ablation is where CO₂ laser technology stands apart from other surgical modalities. The ability to vaporize tissue layer by layer, either gently or aggressively, allows clinicians to “erase” abnormal tissue while preserving healthy structures below. Traditional laser systems required surgeons to select a power and then adjust it, constantly monitoring for signs of over- or under-treatment. Smart surgery removes that complexity with an intuitive ablation speedometer. Instead of selecting a power, the surgeon simply selects a desired ablation rate — slow for delicate tissue removal, faster for aggressive removal (Figure 3). Figure 3. Smart surgery ablation mode utilizes an intuitive ablation speedometer. Using one of the recommended spot sizes, the surgeon simply selects a desired ablation rate—slow for delicate tissue removal, faster for aggressive removal. Abnormal tissue is “erased” while preserving healthy structures below. Photo courtesy Dr. Mike Canfield This approach shifts control from power management to intuitive speed control, letting the clinician focus on tissue response rather than numeric settings. Regardless of the procedure, the experience is consistent: the laser removes what does not belong and preserves what does. Adjustments of the ablation rate enable precise control, transforming ablation into a confident, layer-by-layer sculpting process. Specially designed handpieces allow ablation of large areas of tissue as well as tissue in confined spaces such as the ear canal. The end result? Clearly defined margins, less tissue trauma, and a high level or precision. Marking mode Precise surgery begins with precise planning. Marking mode makes surgical road mapping routine by laying down crisp, visible dots along the intended path of an incision or resection. Instead of juggling pulse rates and power tables, the surgeon simply chooses a dot intensity that is easy to see on the skin and a delivery cadence that matches their preferred spacing. The ability to preview incision lines encourages small adjustments before cutting begins—translating into straighter lines, more symmetric resections, and fewer intraoperative corrections. Quick take: The four intent modes of smart laser surgery 1) Incision 3) Ablation 2) Dissection 4) Marking Each mode adjusts and recommends parameters, such as spot size, pulse structure, and power delivery to support the surgeon’s intent — making precise cuts, achieving hemostasis, removing tissue layer by layer, or pre-mapping incision lines. The result: consistent technique, less setup stress, and repeatable outcomes. Smarter tool, better surgery When used to its potential, a CO₂ laser results in surgeries that are gentler for patients and easier for surgeons. Core advantages include: Better hemostasis that maintains a clear field Precise tissue removal for predictable healing Non-contact incision, dissection, and ablation Fewer instruments, faster workflow Reduced pain, smoother anesthesia, and shorter recovery What smart surgery adds is consistency. These results are no longer limited to the most experienced laser users; rather, they are accessible to any clinician who uses the intent-based modes. By embedding expert techniques into technology, smart surgery turns optimal outcomes into repeatable outcomes. Building confidence and keeping care in-house The value of any tool ultimately depends on how often it is used. Historically, many practices reserved their CO₂ lasers for a narrow set of procedures. Smart surgery changes that by making setup intuitive and the results consistent. Surgeons start by relying on intent-based modes and the hand-speed analyzer. As muscle memory develops, comfort expands — along with procedural range and efficiency. Confidence is cumulative, and it compounds with every well-executed case, resulting in: Expanded surgical skill sets More procedures performed in-house Fewer outbound referrals Greater continuity of care for patients A more robust surgical caseload for the practice From every day to advanced: BOAS as a benchmark Few examples demonstrate the transformation better than brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). In the past, general practitioners referred these cases because conventional tools—cold steel or electrocautery—carried significant risks: bleeding, swelling, and narrow margins for error. Smart CO₂ laser surgery changes that equation. By combining hemostasis and precision, soft-palate resections and stenotic nares corrections become achievable in a general practice setting. The laser’s non-contact action minimizes swelling and bleeding, while smart modes optimize energy delivery for smooth, controlled tissue removal. Earlier intervention in young brachycephalics prevents long-term airway compromise. Procedures are faster, cleaner, and patients often go home the same day. The case stays in-house, patient outcomes improve, and client satisfaction rises. A practical path to adoption Adopting smart laser surgery is straightforward. Start simple: use intent-based modes and let the system assist with motion calibration, power, and spot size selection until these relationships become second nature. Choose initial procedures that build momentum—straightforward skin incisions, simple dissections, or small ablations. Within weeks, the laser will begin to feel like an extension of your hands—a reliable multi-tool for every soft-tissue surgery. The takeaway: Smarter surgery, better surgery Smart surgery represents more than a technological update; it is a rethinking of how surgeons interact with their surgical laser. It aligns software guidance with proven CO₂ laser physics to achieve high-quality, predictable results in incision, dissection, ablation, and marking—every time. Practices that once used lasers for niche procedures are now integrating them across both routine and advanced cases. The result: a higher standard of care, improved outcomes, and more surgeries kept within the primary practice. Smart laser surgery does not just make procedures easier — it redefines what is possible. Confidence, precision, and better patient care are now within reach for every veterinary surgeon. At a glance: CO2 laser surgery benefits Decreased intra- and post-op pain for smoother anesthesia and faster return to function Superior hemostasis that preserves field visibility Non-contact incision, dissection, and ablation for minimal mechanical trauma Precise tissue removal supports predictable healing Less instrument clutter and faster surgical workflow John C. Godbold, Jr., DVM, senior consultant, Stonehaven Veterinary Consulting, practiced full-time as a solo small animal practitioner for 33 years. While practicing, he developed a special interest in laser surgery and, for 25 years, has helped pioneer and teach its clinical applications. Dr. Godbold has presented more than 950 laser workshops, wet labs, and continuing education events throughout North America and in more than 25 countries worldwide.
