Laser Vein Removal
Laser Treatment for Vascular Lesions, Facial and Leg Veins, and Hemangiomas
Laser vein therapy is a non-invasive, non-surgical process that uses laser light to collapse the walls of the blood vessels, which stops the flow of blood in the vein with little to no downtime.
The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates deeply into the skin tissue, where it delivers a controlled amount of targeted therapeutic heat to the targeted blood vessels without harming the surrounding tissue. The laser pulses are absorbed by the hemoglobin (the substance that gives blood the reddish, purple color) and converted into heat. This heat causes the walls of the vein to collapse which, in turn, stops the blood flow. Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) technology protects the upper layers of your skin with a cooling burst of cryogen. Together, the long-pulse laser and DCD cooling offer optimal treatment with minimal side effects.
Your risks are minimal. Side effects may include redness, swelling, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation in the treated area – these usually do not last more than a few days.
The number of sessions depends on the severity of the condition being treated. After each treatment is finished, a follow up appointment is made 8-12 weeks after for review and possible treatment if the ends are still visible. It can take anywhere from 6-12 months for the blood to be absorbed back into the body, part of the natural healing process, until it disappears completely from sight. Some of the smaller spider veins can disappear sooner. Even after the majority of veins in a given area have been treated, new spider veins can develop. After your series of treatments has been completed, you may wish to return after 6 to 9 months for evaluation.
Safety eyewear will be given to you to protect your eyes from the laser light and must be worn at all times unless told otherwise. Each laser pulse may be preceded and followed by a short pulse of the cooling spray (DCD). A treatment could take as little as a few minutes to as long as an hour, depending on the area and condition being treated. Some patients may feel a slight discomfort, but it will resolve in several seconds and is minimized by DCD cooling spray. Ice packs are used to cool the areas prior to treatment, or an anesthetic cream can be applied, especially for the more sensitive areas. Consult with your Laser Technician.
Immediately after treatment, there could be mild erythema (redness) and mild edema (swelling) in the treatment areas, which may last up to 2 hours, or longer. Ice packs can be applied on and off to decrease discomfort and/or swelling if needed. Your veins may appear bruised or darker red following the treatment. This discolouration will fade over the next few weeks. Sometimes scabbing will be present, which usually clears up in a week or two. Hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) and hypopigmentation (lightening of the skin) may take several months to fade. A Post Op cream may be recommended to help decrease bruising.
Call the office at (246) 436-0804 to speak with our Dermatologists or Laser Technicians if you have further questions or are interested in starting Laser Vein Removal Treatments.