Spider veins are small, dilated capillary blood vessels, which are situated at or close to the surface of the skin. Frequently, they appear as a small, flat tangle of blood vessels, but they can take on other shapes as well. They are usually less than 1 cm in diameter and can be red or bluish-purple in color. They are commonly found on the face and legs, but can appear on any area of the body. They are differentiated from, which tend to be raised, bumpy, larger and deeper than spider veins and often involve the lower extremities.

Our laser delivers a concentrated beam of light and heat energy to the small area of capillary blood vessels that form the spider vein. The wavelength of light is targeted to the pigment found in the blood vessels. The laser energy heats up the collection of blood vessels and causes them to close up and gradually fade away. The laser beam is focused and does not damage adjacent skin tissue. Laser treatment is a safe and effective choice for spider vein removal. It is not invasive and does not involve any injections. It is also quick and treatment often takes only a few minutes.

The area to be treated should not be exposed to sunlight for 2-4 weeks prior to treatment. If you have had sun exposure during that time, treatment should be deferred until proper time has elapsed without sun exposure. Your skin should be completely clean and dry prior to treatment. Remove or omit application of any skin care products on the day of treatment. In addition, avoid using tanning creams, spray tans, or any other type of temporary pigmented skin products prior to treatment. Patients with a history of the following conditions may not be good candidates for laser treatment :

• Poorly controlled diabetic patients or patients with poor circulation.

• Patients who have a history of poor skin or wound healing.

• Patients who take a blood thinner, such as coumadin or plavix, unless it can be safely stopped for the duration of treatment. This should be cleared by your primary care provider beforehand.

• Patients who are taking high doses of iron may have an increased risk of skin hyperpigmentation.
  

You must avoid direct sunlight after treatment to reduce the chances of skin hyperpigmentation. Use a broad spectrum SPF 30 zinc oxide or titanium dioxide product with UVA and UVB protection for your skin. Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours after treatment. Compression stockings are typically recommended to help reduce the reappearance of lower extremity spider veins.

The surrounding skin may develop a reddish, excoriated appearance. This usually resolves in a few days. On occasion, the treated area may become darker, purplish or bruised in appearance. This discoloration may take a few weeks or longer to fade.

The desired results of laser spider vein treatment may or may not be immediate. For some patients, it may take up to 8 weeks to notice the change. For others, it can be a fairly dramatic improvement. In general, gradual progress will occur although several treatments may be required. The number of treatments required can vary based on multiple factors. However, in our experience, many patients report marked improvement even after one treatment. During your free spider vein treatment consultation, you will be advised of the approximate number of treatments needed to achieve your desired results after careful assessment of your skin and review of your medical history by our certified laser specialist.