Laser Vein Treatment

Q. What is laser vein treatment?
Laser therapy is a proven treatment for treating unsightly broken and dilated vessels as well as such other unwanted vascular lesions as rosacea, port wine stains, and other vascular birthmarks. In fact, the latest advances in laser technology have given us a method for removal that is safer, faster and more effective than previous methods.

Q. How does laser vein treatment work?
Lasers work by emitting a specialized light that passes through the skin and is preferentially absorbed by its target, which can be an unwanted hair, birthmark, tattoo, or in this case, the hemoglobin (the red portion of blood) in the unwanted vessels. The heat from the laser causes the vein to break up and disappear. There are several lasers available that work very well in treating unwanted veins.

Q. What is the ClearScan vascular laser?
ClearScan is a new laser using infrared energy and the new standard for the treatment of many skin conditions. The Profile laser allows our medical staff to precisely treat visible vessels, broken capillaries, spider veins, facial veins and telangiectasia. The ClearScan laser is ideally suited to treat small veins, broken capillaries and other visible vascular structures that are too small to be treated by sclerotherapy. Unwanted lesions will be preferentially heated by the laser energy and become less noticeable, some will disappear; and pigmented lesions will greatly improve.

Q. How long will it take me to recover?
Your healing time will depend upon your actual treatment, and you may experience erythema (redness) which may last a few hours to several days. Your skin will have a pink or red color that will resolve over time. Any vessels or pigment denatured by the laser will be reabsorbed by your body over a period of time in a natural cleaning process. Most small capillaries will become invisible almost immediately since they will no longer contain blood flow. You will need to avoid direct sun exposure, or use a sun block of at least SPF 15 when outdoors. After treatment, you can immediately return to normal activities.

Q. Will it be uncomfortable?
There is little discomfort; however, this varies from patient to patient and depends on the depth of the treatment. Most people describe laser vein treatment as feeling like the snap of a rubber band against the skin. There is no need for anesthesia and your skin is protected by contact cooling during the procedure. You may briefly feel a warm or hot sensation as the laser pulses are preferentially absorbed in the unwanted vessels, heating and destroying them.

Q. How soon will I see results? Are there any side effects?
Because laser vein treatment works by causing the unwanted vein to break up and dissolve, resolution of the unwanted vein will take place over the course of several weeks. The most common side effect is bruising, or purpura, around the treated area. This will resolve within days of the treatment. Our medical professionals will discuss other possible risks with you and answer all your questions during your pre-treatment consultation.

Q. What are facial veins?
Facial veins are fine blood vessels (otherwise known as telangiectasia) located on the face, usually around the nose and central cheeks. They can be the result of cumulative sun exposure, genetics, or rosacea. Many patients also refer to these as "broken" blood vessels or capillaries.