Spider Vein Removal

Now there’s good news for patients interested in removing embarrassing, unsightly leg and facial veins without painful injections or incisions. Aesthetic lasers, such as our Candela Gentle Yag laser, deliver pulsed light and provide a very effective long-term result.

Laser vein removal employs non-invasive, non-surgical technology. The most common vein disorders today are spider veins and varicose veins. These and other disorders, depending on severity, have been successfully treated using laser treatment.

Many facial and leg vessels require only one or two treatments, however, multiple treatments may be required for optimum results of vessels. Hereditary factors, prolonged sun exposure, aging, trauma and other factors can cause capillaries to become dilated and visible.

How Does Spider Vein Removal Work?

The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates deep into skin tissue where it delivers a controlled amount of targeted therapeutic heat. Candela’s patented Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD™) technology protects the upper layers of your skin with a cooling burst of cryogen, making it one of the most comfortable and effective lasers on the market today. Together, the long-pulse laser and DCD™ cooling offer optimal treatment with minimal side effects.

Laser technology collapses the veins without doing any damage to the outer layers of the skin. The light pulses are absorbed by 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. Once this happens, the vein is slowly absorbed into the body, disappearing from sight.

DOES IT HURT?

Some patients may feel a slight discomfort with the laser pulse, sometimes described as the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. This discomfort resolves in several seconds and is minimized by Candela’s DCD™ cooling. For some patients, a topical anesthetic may be used prior to treatment. Be sure to discuss this with your practitioner.

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?

Laser vein removal results in rapid healing with minimal side effects. Some patients occasionally blister, experience temporary skin discoloration, bruising and/or reddening of the skin. These conditions usually subside within a few days. Permanent side effects, such as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation or scarring are rare.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE TREATMENT?

Patients should avoid sun exposure before and after treatment, by applying sunblock (SPF 30 or above) prior to going outdoors. For the first 48 hours, patients should avoid any strenuous activity and avoid any anti-inflammatory or aspirin related medications. Long-term success varies from patient to patient and vessel to vessel. Many facial vessels require only one or two treatments. Multiple treatments are usually required for optimum results of vessels in the legs.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

Laser vein removal treatments usually start at about $150 and tend to go up from there. Treatments can last anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes and are usually spaced about 6 weeks apart depending on the severity of the vein disorder. Most insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic procedures.