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Many people are embarrassed by the appearance of spider veins on the face or legs. Spider veins are actually dilated or stretched blood vessels that appear on the legs, not "broken" blood vessels, as is commonly thought. Their precise cause is unknown, but it is thought that heredity, excessive standing, weight gain, hormonal changes and pregnancy may be some of the causes.
Laser technology has become an important factor in the treatment of vascular deformities such as hemangiomas, port wine stains, and spider veins. Endovascular laser therapy (EVLT) allows for the treatment of varicose veins using minimal incisions and laser ablation of the vein in the area above the knee. Our clinical center uses EVLT, laser therapy and sclerotherapy injections in combination to offer an aggressive approach to the treatment of problematic lower leg veins and spider veins. We typically treat larger varicose veins with either EVLT or sclerotherapy. Spider veins are treated with the laser. Most patients require 2 to 3 treatments spaced over 3 to 6 months.
Laser vein removal can help to restore your skin to a more youthful appearance. For more information, please view the "Frequently Asked Questions" below.
What is endovascular laser treatments and what do they accomplish?
Laser treatments are safe, effective, non-surgical laser options that work by targeting vessels under the skin allowing the laser light to reach the blood vessels while bypassing the skin. The laser light is absorbed by the hemoglobin causing the vessel to coagulate and subsequently be absorbed by the body.
Below is a list of vascular skin conditions that can be treated.
spider veins broken capillaries
leg veins dilated blood vessels
varicose veins hemangiomas
pigment lesions port wine stains
vascular lesions benign pigmented lesion
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Am I a good candidate?
You are a good candidate if you are in relatively good health; do not regularly take aspirin or other blood-thinning medications; are not pregnant; do not have a disease that prevents your blood from clotting properly or if you have blood vessels that are smaller than 5mm (about 1/4-inch). You cannot be "tan" at the time of your treatment. Although it is safe for all skin types, tanned skin has activated pigment cells which may absorb the energy before it reaches the vein. It is important to have your normal skin tone at the time of treatment and to stay out of the sun for 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after the treatment.
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Why do I need a consultation?
A consultation is necessary prior to scheduling your laser treatment. The consultation allows us to determine your skin type, the appropriate laser necessary for your treatment, and if this would be the best treatment for your particular vascular condition. You may find, during your consultation, that other treatments available in the clinic may benefit your condition better such as scherotherapy. It is also important to rule out larger blood vessel disease before treatment. Failure to do so will lead to early recurrence of the problem.
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How is it different from sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is the elimination of small leg veins using an injected solution. The solution, a saline-based or other medicinal type preparation, is injected into the vein using a very fine needle. This causes an intentional inflammatory response inside the vein followed by an obliteration of the lumen of the vein. Over time the treated segment of the vein is absorbed, hence "eliminating" the vein.
Both laser and sclerotherapy are excellent treatments for leg veins. Advantages of the laser include no needles, the ability to treat small vessels (sometimes difficult to do with sclerotherapy) and increased safety in treatment of certain areas, especially the ankle. Sclerotherapy is simple and easy to do and is less expensive. If you have extensive varicose veins, you may need deep sclerotherapy or surgical vein removal. This will be discussed with you at the time of your consultation.
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How is the treatment performed?
Your laser treatment will be performed at The James W. Aston Center on the campus of UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Prior to your treatment, a topical anesthetic is applied to anesthetize the skin that will be treated. The treatment is not painful but uncomfortable. Patients describe the feeling as similar to a rubber band snapping against their skin. To make you more comfortable, we may write a prescription for Valium before your treatment but you will need to bring someone with you to drive you home following the procedure.
The treatment is performed by applying the laser on the vein to be removed. The laser light is absorbed by hemoglobin, a substance in the blood that gives it a red or purple color. Brief light pulses are delivered to the vein, causing the vessel to coagulate and subsequently be absorbed by the body. The wavelength enables the beam of light to reach the target vessels under the skin and to bypass the skin entirely. The benefit of this is that it greatly lessens the side effects of skin discoloration and ulcerations which have been problems with other laser systems.
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How many treatments will I need to have?
Typically 3 to 5 treatments are required and should be performed every 6 weeks. Some veins may disappear after a single treatment while others may take longer. The amount of treatments necessary will depend on your particular skin condition. Your doctor will address your concerns and be able to give you a better idea of how many treatment may be required at the time of your consultation.
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What is the recovery like?
The procedure results in rapid healing with minimal side effects. Some patients experience temporary skin discoloration, reddening of the skin bruising, and occasionally blisters. These conditions subside over a couple of weeks to a couple of months. After treatment, sun exposure should be limited to short periods of time with a sunscreen. After you have healed, you will need to continually protect your new skin. In the early weeks and months following the treatment, your skin will be very susceptible to sun damage. If at all possible, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. If you must be in the sun for a short time, use sunscreen.
Studies have shown an average of 70% improvement after 1 to 2 treatments on the face and after 3 to 4 treatments on the legs.
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How much do the treatments cost?
Laser vein removal involves the use of sophisticated expensive laser equipment in order to deliver precise and effective energy pulses. During your initial consultation the areas to be treated will be determined and a fee quote per treatment session will be given to you. This fee involves the cost of the procedure, topical anesthetic and postoperative visits. The fee for re-treatment sessions at one to two month intervals may be the same or less than the initial treatment depending on the extent of follow-up treatment needed. Our aim is to provide safe, effective and affordable laser treatments for patients wishing to avail themselves of this service.
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