When you think of laser vein removal, do you still think of laser blasters from pre-80s sci-fi movies? Or the giant blast of laser energy used to destroy planets by the Death Star? Lasers have come a long way since then, baby!
Today’s lasers are highly efficient and specialized. In fact, lasers are now so refined that they’re used in a variety of ways to treat patients – by doctors, surgeons, and estheticians.
Three of the most common uses for lasers are laser skin therapy, laser hair removal, and laser vein removal. Today we’ll talk about laser vein removal for spider veins. (Evexias Denver offers the other two.)
Those Pesky Little Spider Veins
Do you have tiny blue spiderweb-like veins that fan out across your face, hands, or ankles? These are commonly known as spider veins, or Telangiectasia. Unless you are Spider Man (or Woman), spider veins are probably pretty annoying. Although they don’t hurt and are rarely a sign of a deeper problem, you may be itching to get rid of them.
If you have spider veins, you’re not alone. Over 50% of Americans older than 50 have some version of spider veins somewhere on their bodies. In the past, the only way to remove them was by invasive means.
Today, however, you can attend clinic for laser vein treatment, and your practitioner can easily remove those pesky little spider veins with minimally invasive techniques.
Laser Vein Treatment: How Does it Work?
Using a laser on your skin or inside your veins sounds scary and painful. In reality, a laser is only a highly focused light beam that gets really hot. The heat from the laser damages diseased veins. This causes scar tissue to form, and the vein gets plugged up. When the closed vein can’t be replenished with blood, it dies and eventually disappears. Not scary, not painful!
Laser Treatment for Spider Veins
Your practitioner performs simple laser vein treatment on the outside of your skin. It’s the perfect laser treatment for spider veins and tiny varicose veins that are just under the surface of your skin.
Because of the nature of the procedure, you usually need more than one laser session. Typically, laser treatment for spider veins is scheduled every 6 to 12 weeks or as directed by your provider.
Sometimes, however, your vein specialist may need to go a little deeper to treat your spider veins using endovenous laser treatment.
Endovenous basically means “inside the vein.” This type of laser treatment removes veins from the inside out. It happens like this:
- First, a small incision is made near the damaged vein.
- Your provider inserts a catheter (thin tube) into the incision
- They pass a laser fiber through the tube and into the vein
- Your provider can see where the laser fiber is in your body by following it on a duplex ultrasound screen.
- Finally, the vein specialist will target the damaged areas with the tiny laser light.
Sounds a little sci-fi, right? Don’t worry. A local anesthesia or a light sedative is all that’s needed for laser vein treatment. Endovenous laser treatment is also remarkable, in fact. Because it’s less painful and invasive than vein ligation and stripping, the recovery time is shorter. Patients can get back to work when they feel ready and should start walking immediately after the procedure.
Laser Surgery Recovery Time
You can get back to your normal routine right after laser treatment for spider veins. You may notice some skin discoloration but can expect it to resolve itself in about 3 to 6 months.
Spider Vein Laser Aftercare
If you want to heal as quickly as possible, you need to follow your provider’s aftercare instructions as closely as possible. Your provider will probably recommend that you
- Apply cold packs immediately after treatment to cool the treatment area, reduce swelling, and ease any discomfort.
- For the first four or five days following treatment, protect the area by avoiding hot baths, aerobic exercise, rough sports, and massage.
- For at least one month, use 30–50 SPF sunblock and protect the treated area from sunlight.
- Apply makeup immediately after treatment (if you wish), unless the treatment area scales and cakes.
If you’ve already decided to go ahead with laser treatment for your spider veins, contact us now for an appointment.
Otherwise, let’s move on to answering the most frequently asked questions about vein laser treatment that we get here at Denver Vein Center.
Your Questions Answered
How successful is laser vein removal for spider veins?
The success rates for laser vein treatments are incredibly close to 100%, and the success rates for endovenous laser treatment are the same regardless of your age. Even better is that once the vein is gone, it stays gone. In rare instances, there may be a recurrence of spider veins.
How long does it take to make spider veins disappear?
Small spider veins may disappear immediately. Larger spider veins will darken first and then disappear within 1 to 3 months.
How much does vein laser treatment cost?
The average cost of laser vein treatment varies according to your specific situation and the type of treatment you receive. Many factors can affect the final price of treatment. The best way to find out how much laser vein removal will cost – and how much your insurance will cover – is to consult with a vein specialist.
What are the risks and side effects associated with laser vein removal for spider veins?
Every procedure has risks and side effects, even the minimally invasive ones. When getting laser treatment, you risk
- Getting skin burns.
- Changes in skin coloring
- Feeling prickling, burning, or pain from nerve damage (although this happens less often than it does with vein stripping surgery)
- Developing small or large blood clots in the vein or a deep vein (this is also less likely to happen than it does after vein stripping surgery)
Choosing a highly qualified provider who has extensive experience with using lasers for vein laser treatment decreases your risk of side effects significantly.
Finally, is Laser Vein Removal Good For Spider Veins?
You decide this one! In our opinion, though, the answer to this question is a resounding yes. But we’re biased because we’ve had hundreds of clients walk out of our doors happy and spider vein-free.
You don’t have to wait for some futuristic new gizmo to relieve you of ugly spider veins – the future is already here! Contact us for a consultation today!