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Cosmetic Services > Facial Vein Treatments
Jump to Q and A This has changed my self-esteem. My confidence is improved. Skin not only looks better, it feels better. MH,25, Newmarket
Love the results of spider veins and red spot removal. MM, 52, Mt. Albert
I had no problems whatsoever and am very pleased. My friend had a red spot on her neck which is completely gone after one visit. DP, 52, Aurora
I was very happy with my treatment. I was told I may need two treatments, but I was very happy with the first. SS, 43, Pefferlaw
Questions and AnswersFacial veins are treated using laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) or a combination of the two.
Veins that are easily visible to the naked eye are readily treated with our CoolGlide Excel laser. Frequently, only one or two treatments are required.
Vessels that are barely visible to the naked eye and produce a blushed appearance are best treated with intense pulsed light. Usually several treatments are needed. Rosacea is an example of this type of facial vein.
Spider nevi (photo) are small red blood vessels with a central dot and little "legs", giving them the name "spider". They respond well to laser.
Capillary hemangiomas respond very well to laser. These are the so-called "ruby spots", little red dots that you get anywhere on your skin. If you have one, you likely have dozens. When these spots are larger and raised, they are called cherry angiomas (photo).
Venous lakes are pools of darker blood, most frequently found on lips. They are often mistaken for moles, because they can be almost black. They respond very well to laser. (photo)
Back to topLaser energy is selectively absorbed by hemoglobin, the pigment in blood. This produces a rapid rise in temperature that damages the vessel wall resulting in contraction and scarring of the vein. If this vessel is permanently damaged, it will never return.
Some vessels are only damaged and do not die. They may go into spasm and be invisible for an hour or two, and then return. These vessels need to be treated again.
Some vessels do not appear to have been damaged initially, but they shrivel and disappear over the next two to three weeks.
Back to topThere is no easy answer to this question, since pain perception and tolerance varies greatly from person to person.
While laser hair removal is generally very well tolerated, laser treatment of veins requires about 1.5 times as much energy, which results in mild to moderate pain.
When IPL is used, the treatment is generally quite comfortable, producing a brief sharp zing.
Topical anesthetic creams are available, but they produce constriction of blood vessels, which reduces the efficacy of treatment. These creams are useful for hair removal, but they are not recommended for vein treatments.
We use skin cooling and vibration to decrease discomfort.
Back to topLaser vein treatment causes mild to moderate pain. This pain is momentary, like a pinprick or the snap of an elastic band. It rarely persists following the treatment.
Mild redness is normal and usually lasts about two days.
The powerful light of the laser can occasionally cause burning and blistering. Most burns are only one to two millimeters in diameter. Most burns heal uneventfully, but burning may lead to scarring. Laser scars look like chickenpox or acne scars: small, circular, and slightly indented. They are permanent.
Skin color changes can occur. This can be increased pigmentation (melanin and/or hemosiderin) or decreased pigmentation. Recent exposure to sunlight or tanning booths will increase the risk dramatically when using IPL. This effect is almost always temporary, usually lasting a few weeks to months. In very rare cases it is permanent.
Bruising occasionally complicates laser treatment of veins. Generally, these bruises resolve in one week or so, but rarely a yellowy staining of the skin persists for a few months. This is iron staining.
Occasionally people develop a light-induced rash (photodermatitis), which can be intensely itchy but resolves spontaneously in a few days. It can be treated with cortisone cream.
Matting is a phenomenon in which your body builds numerous tiny blood vessels in the treated area. These vessels usually resolve over several months, but they may require treatment to make them resolve.
Freckles and pigmented lesions may temporarily or permanently disappear.
Since the laser and IPL also remove hair, you will lose some hair in the treated area.
Goggles must be worn during the procedure to protect the eyes.
Back to topAbsolutely not. The wavelength of light that produces skin cancer is in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum. The CoolGlide laser produces light at the opposite end of the spectrum in the infrared range. It will not cause skin cancer.
Intense pulsed light contains all wavelengths of light, but the short wavelengths in the ultraviolet range are all filtered out.
Back to topVeins that are destroyed by the laser will not regenerate. Veins that are only damaged may persist. Some veins are not damaged at all.
Since laser and IPL treatments do not alter the underlying condition, new vessels are likely to develop. Facial vein treatments are commonly repeated every two years or so. Rosacea treatments may require touchups one or three times a year.
The goal of treatment is improvement, not perfection. Your expectations must be realistic.
Back to topFacial veins can frequently be eliminated in only one or two treatments. Occasionally, five or more treatments are required. Most commonly, one or two sessions of laser are given for the larger vessels, followed by two to four sessions of IPL to treat the general underlying redness produced by tiny vessels.
Back to topWhereas the laser can treat any skin color for hair removal, the high energy used for vein treatments is generally not tolerated by darker skinned people. Blacks and East Indians may be too pigmented to treat safely. A small test patch in a less visible area is recommended
Back to topThe darker your skin color, the more dangerous the laser is to your skin. This is because melanin in the skin absorbs the laser light and heats the skin.
In most cases, a bit of suntan is not significant. However, for certain individuals, this little bit of tan may put your skin over the threshold for burning or pigment changes when treating veins.
Therefore, it is preferable, but not absolutely necessary, to treat untanned skin.
Back to topLaser or IPL treatment of the face usually take 15-20 minutes. Usually 60 to 120 laser pulses are required. IPL uses a larger spot size, so the same area might require about 20 pulses.
Small areas the size of a loonie can be treated in a few minutes with 10-20 laser pulses.
Back to topThe same area should not be treated again until the skin has settled. One week or more should be allowed between treatments. Over a period of six weeks or so veins that did not seem to respond to treatment may fade and disappear. Therefore, we recommend waiting four to six weeks for maximum benefit to become evident, before deciding on further treatment.
Back to topIt is perfectly reasonable to take Tylenol with or without codeine prior to treatment. Aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided because they may contribute to bruising.
Topical anesthetic creams are available, but they produce constriction of blood vessels, which reduces the success of treatment. These creams are useful for hair removal, but they are not recommended for vein treatments.
Back to topThe ultimate goal is for you to achieve instantaneous results and leave the office free of visible veins. This is possible with visible veins, but not with the tiny veins seen in rosacea.
Redness always occurs and may persist for two or three days.
Treatment of facial veins is very unlikely to produce any adverse reaction such as swelling, bruising, and blistering. Makeup will easily cover most adverse skin reactions that occur. This is in contrast to laser treatments in the early days, when swelling , blistering, and bruising were considered normal and were evident for two or three weeks following treatment.
Tiny blood clots may form inside the vessel. This will make the vessel appear darker than it was, and you may think that the treatment has not worked. These clots are harmless and will disappear over a two weeks or so along with the vein.
Blistering is not considered normal or acceptable. Unfortunately, due to the high levels of energy used for vein treatment, burning and blistering do occur. In most cases these burns are only a one or two millimeters in diameter and heal uneventfully. If a scar forms, it will have the appearance of an acne or chickenpox scar.
Back to topYou should avoid exposure to the sun and use sunscreen with at least SPF 30 for about five days following laser treatment and two weeks following IPL treatment. Anthelios and UV Shield are excellent sunscreens with broad-spectrum coverage of damaging UV-A and UV-B rays.
Avoid hot baths for a few days.
Otherwise, there are no restrictions. You can return to your daily activities immediately.
Back to topNo. This treatment is considered to be cosmetic.
Back to topGenerally speaking, the answer is no, but this depends on your policy. Check with your insurance agent.
Back to topYes! Since we are a medical clinic, we can provide you with a receipt for medical expenses that can be used for tax purposes.
Back to topWe require 48 hours notice for cancellation of your consultation or treatment, in order to fill the appointment time. If sufficient notice is not given, the full value of the treatment to be done may be charged. The minimum charge for a missed appointment or late cancellation is $80 (eighty dollars).
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