Laser vein treatment, usually takes less than an hour. The procedure uses a focused beam of light to target the vein that is selected for treatment, and because the beam is focused it is careful not to affect nearby skin, tissue and veins. As the laser heats up ,the vein is destroyed, then, over a period of four to six weeks, the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears.

The Nd: YAG laser heats and penetrates the superficial blood vessel. The heat generated from the laser coagulates the blood inside the vessel, causing it to collapse and seal. Over the next few weeks, the vessel will disappear and all the blood will be removed by the body’s scavenging cells. The newer laser treatments allow the delivery of a precise dosage of energy to each blood vessel without injuring any nearby structures.

The most common laser used to treat spider veins is the ND: YAG laser system. It is a hand-held device and also has a cooling tip to minimize discomfort during the therapy.

Soon after the procedure, you may feel a slight bump on the skin; it should disappear hours after treatment. The area may also appear slightly redder and occasionally may be bruised.

As mentioned, a local anesthetic cream is used to numb the area. During treatment, however, you may feel a slight tingling sensation as the laser fires. Most current day lasers have a cooling system that prevents the tip of the laser from getting too hot and resulting in burns or damage to the area.

There are no major preparations required before the laser treatment, but you will want to avoid sun exposure, aspirin, alcohol and smoking for at least a week prior to the procedure.

As for the day of treatment, avoid all creams, lotions and moisturisers on the area that is going to be treated. Also, wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the body part(s) being treated.

It is generally recommended that the treatments be spaced four to six weeks apart. If new veins appear, additional treatments are required for optimum results.

The skin above the veins will have a reddish, cat-scratch appearance. This generally disappears over the next two days

The risks associated with laser vein therapy are minimal. Your eyes will be shielded during the treatments. Most facilities use state-of-the-art cooling systems, thus the treatments are low risk and relatively pain-free.

Depending on the size and number of veins, two to six treatments will be needed. The treatments are usually done 4-6 weeks apart. Those with a tendency towards vascular problems will most likely require additional treatments.

All individuals are evaluated prior to laser therapy. Spider veins do not cause symptoms and are of a cosmetic concern only. For those who have symptoms, further investigation is done to ensure that they do not have varicose veins. Laser therapy is most effective for the very small spider veins and not used to treat large varicose veins.

There is no cure for spider veins. Although treatment does not prevent the development of new spider veins, the removal of existing veins can dramatically improve the appearance of the affected area, providing a more youthful, healthy look and an even colour pattern to the skin. Spider veins can be recurrent and thus, more treatments will be required in the future.

In addition to the leg spider veins, the laser can provide non-invasive skin treatments for the face. We can also treat other vascular conditions such as:

-Cherry agiomas
-Telangiectasia
-Spider Neavus

After laser therapy, it is strongly recommended that one keep away from the sun. The pain is minimal and one may take any over the counter pain medications. After treatment, there is no downtime. You can resume all of your normal activities immediately afterward.

Final results may not be apparent for several months. Most patients are satisfied by the results in a very short time.

The results of laser treatment for spider veins are not immediate. After the laser therapy, the vessels underneath the skin will gradually change from a dark blue to light red colour, then eventually disappearing in two to six weeks.

Most patients report a high degree of satisfaction with the procedure and relief at no longer having to hide unsightly veins. The treated areas are noticeably clearer and in most cases the skin continues to improve with each successive treatment.

The majority of spider veins will disappear within two to four weeks, and in some cases even longer.

Conservative treatment approaches include losing weight if you are overweight, exercising regularly (especially walking), avoiding prolonged periods of sitting or standing, and elevating your legs while sitting and sleeping. For those who tend to stand up for prolonged periods, time outs should be taken to rest the feet.

If conservative treatment does not achieve satisfactory relief of symptoms or if the appearance of the veins is bothersome, other treatments may be offered, depending on your overall medical condition. Depending on the size and location of the veins, other treatment techniques include:

-Sclerotherapy: This procedure involves the injection of a liquid or foam chemical directly into the vein with a small needle. The chemical, called a sclerosant, irritates the veins and causes it to collapse. Over time, the vein turns into scar tissue that fades away. The procedure is usually done in a clinic, is relatively inexpensive, and has little downtime. Most individuals require a couple of sessions to treat all the spider veins. Side effects of sclerotherapy may include slight swelling, bruising, and redness and itching at injection sites. If the solution leaks out of the vein, pain and darkening of the skin occurs.
-Intense Light Therapy: This newer technique of treating spider veins uses intense pulsed light that can be used to selectively damage or destroy abnormal veins including small spider veins and small vascular birthmarks. Unlike laser, the intense light therapy is more suited for vascular lesions slightly deeper in the skin. This treatment may be recommended when sclerotherapy or laser therapy does not effectively treat the superficial vein. Two to four treatments may be required depending on the number and size of the lesions.
-Surgical ligation/stripping: Spider veins are almost never treated with surgery. Surgery is only reserved for the large varicose veins.

-It has much fewer side effects
-It is less traumatic to the surrounding skin compared to sclerotherapy
-It takes a much shorter time to complete laser treatment
-It is less painful than sclerotherapy
-Recovery is immediate
-Downtime is almost zero
-Laser therapy can even be used on the face

During your first consultation at Dermology we will assess the area of concern and discuss the best treatment for your skin.