LASER VEIN REMOVAL

Your Local Vein Specialist

Broken veins on the face or body are painless, permanently dilated blood vessels. They are most often found on the cheeks, nose and chin of people with fair skin. They are painless and considered harmless and as such removal is termed a ‘cosmetic procedure’. Red or purple veins that are formed in fine lines around the nose, cheeks and chin often have a thread-like appearance and as such are often called thread or red veins.

• Spider veins are so-called as they form a fine web-like cluster, often a pinky red or light purple in colour resembling a spider’s web.
• Spider naevi refers to veins that have ‘spider legs’ that branch out from a central feeding vessel.
• Cherry Angioma are another type of burst blood vessel, often called ‘blood spots’ as they resemble circular raised spots of blood. They can be found on arms, chest, back and stomach. When pressed they will not blanche (go white).

Why Consider Vein Removal?

These are just a few reasons why some of our clients choose to have thread vein removal.

• ‘I feel self-conscious’
• ‘I’m embarrassed by them’
• ‘they’re unsightly’
• ‘they make me feel old’

Removal can help restore your confidence and can improve the appearance of prematurely aged skin. It is a common cosmetic procedure with effective visible results from the very first treatment. Results can be seen after a few weeks when treating the legs. Treatment carries low risks with minimal short-term side effects.

What Causes Broken Veins?

There is more than one cause for broken veins, often a combination of factors may be the reason such as a genetic predisposition (carried through family members). It is often a condition of middle age. The increased loss of the skin’s elasticity causes the blood vessel walls to weaken increasing the risk of small veins rupturing.
Long term sun exposure and photo damage are major contributors, as is rapid temperature fluctuations, harsh winds and exposure to very cold or excessively hot temperatures. Other causes include hormonal changes, particularly during puberty and in women during pregnancy and menopause. Rapid fluctuations in weight; certain medications and lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol and spicy foods can all contribute to broken veins.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment is the most effective method for superficial veins on the face and body. The number of treatments can range from 1-6 sessions depending upon the area treated.  If the spider vein is small, you may see it disappear right away. It may take one to three months for larger spider veins to go away. Some people need multiple sessions. Face veins tend to require up to 3 sessions and leg veins tend to need more sessions at longer intervals often 12 weeks apart.

What happens during the treatment?
The laser light targets the blood vessel heating the capillary walls, causing the vessel walls to collapse. The blood is dispersed immediately or reabsorbed into the body over several weeks.

The skin is chilled with cool air before, during and after treatment to minimise the sensation of heat and provide a comfortable procedure. The laser light is focused on only the target vessels, the surrounding skin will redden with some mild localised swelling immediately after treatment. Healing can take from a few days to several weeks with visible improvements from the offset.

Does it hurt?
You will feel a sensation of heat during the treatment. This is mild for small facial veins. Deeper larger vessels will have a stronger sensation of heat that is well managed with the chilled air and cooling gel applied during the treatment. Aloe Vera gel is applied to the skin immediately after treatment.
Your next session will be scheduled for about 6 weeks later for face veins and 12 weeks for body veins or once the skin is fully healed.