Laser Vein therapy Calgary
What are spider veins?
Spider Veins are appropriately named! Just like spiders and spider webs, nobody likes them. The proper name for this small unsightly red, purple or blue blood vessels is telangiectasias. It’s easier to just call them spider veins.
Spider Veins are small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin. In contrast, varicose veins are usually larger in diameter and may appear as blue raised "worm-like" vessels. Varicose veins are not suitable for treatment with a laser but a treatment known as sclerotherapy is offered at several clinics in Calgary for those who are not candidates for laser vein treatments.
Spider Veins:
Also known as “telangiectasia” are capillaries which have been damaged and are now visible at the surface of the skin. These can appear red, blue or purple. These are found most commonly on the face and legs.
Reticular Veins:
Also known as “feeder veins” is the blue to green veins that become enlarged, twisted and may protrude slightly. Reticular veins, even if not yet visible are the root problem that gives rise to spider veins on areas like the legs in the first place. These are found in the legs and are especially visible behind the knees. These veins do not typically cause any pain or discomfort and are considered a cosmetic problem rather than a medical one.
Benefits:
• Safer and Less expensive then vein injections
• Non-invasive, no needles
• Only one treatment required
• Quick recovery
What is laser vein therapy?
Laser Vein Therapy is a laser treatment for spider or reticular veins on the face and body to remove these broken and unsightly vessels. Spider veins are nonvital, meaning there is no real need for them. They appear most frequently on the face and legs. While they don’t pose any health risk they can be disfiguring and tend to worsen with time. Spider veins are typically less than 1 mm in diameter, but Skinpossible’s Cynosure Elite Laser can treat larger vessels up to 3 mm in diameter with excellent results. There is no reason not to.
What causes blood vessels to become damaged?
Within healthy veins and capillaries, there are valves, the job of the valves is to ensure blood is flowing in one direction only. In damaged veins and capillaries, these valves become weak and defective which allows blood to flow backward and pool inside the vessel. As this happens pressure builds, the vessel wall weakens and will eventually expand to compensate for the additional volume. As a result, the vein enlarges, bulges and twists. Depending on the size of the blood vessel and extent of swelling, the result is a spider, reticular, or varicose vein.
Causes of leg and facial veins
Heredity: They are typical to patients with a family history of this condition
Gender: There is a 4 to 1 female to male ratio
Age: Spider veins usually start to occur with patients between the ages of 18-35, but will peak with patients that are between 50-60 years old
Pregnancy/Hormones & increased blood volume and pressure
Age: Spider veins usually start to occur with patients between the ages of 18-35, but will peak with patients that are between 50-60 years old
Pregnancy/Hormones & increased blood volume and pressure
Trauma/damage or injury to the area where veins occur
Lifestyle/Occupation- high heeled shoes, sitting or standing for long periods, binding clothing, birth control pills, chronic constipation
Excessive sun exposure
Laser vein therapy vs Sclerotherapy
Laser spider vein treatments have become very popular because they are non-invasive and offer many advantages over sclerotherapy, including the price of the treatments and the quick recovery time. While sclerotherapy may take multiple treatments and needle injections are needed in each vein, laser treatment may only require one treatment and needles are not used.
*The satisfaction rating for this treatment is very high but results do vary from person to person. While we can control the technology and the parameters we set, it is beyond our ability to control how any individual will respond to any treatment.
Laser Vein Removal FAQ
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How does laser vein therapy work? +
During a laser vein removal treatment a concentrated beam of light energy from the laser is directed precisely at the small blood vessels. The light penetrates below the surface of the skin and the heat causes the blood within the tiny vessels to coagulate. The walls of the vein collapse, blood flow is stopped and over the next two to eight weeks the vein is absorbed into the body and disappears. Blood flow will then be redirected to veins deeper below your skin’s surface where it should be.
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How many treatments are required for laser vein removal? +
Usually only one to two treatments are sufficient but this depends on the number, colour and size of the vessels being treated. Treatments can be purchased one at a time or as a series of three with cost savings advantages. This is our best value for patients that want to rid themselves of troublesome leg and facial veins that are sporadic and not definitive to one particular area or body part. Over a period of years new veins may appear and new treatment plans may be needed.
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How long does it take to do a laser vein removal treatment? +
Treatments are extremely fast but how long it takes will depend on how many spider veins there are to be treated. Treatments are priced based on the amount of estimated time it will take to perform each treatment. They are sold in 15 minute, 30 minute and 60 minute increments and we will treat as many veins as we can within the allocated treatment time.
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Do laser vein treatments hurt? +
A pulse of laser light feels like a small pinch or sting similar to the snap of a rubber band against the skin. No local anesthesia is required and the procedure is well tolerated by most people. For people with very sensitive skin, a medical-grade topical anesthetic can be provided. Any redness or swelling should be gone within a day and you’ll be able to resume normal activities immediately.
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Can I tan after laser vein removal treatments? +
Avoid sun exposure and wear SPF 30 sun block for a minimum of one month after treatment on all treated areas. We recommend Colorescience Sunforgetable Mineral SPF or Tizo Mineral SPF both of which can be purchased at Skinpossible. Premature sun exposure increases the risk of post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation which is usually transient in nature but could be permanent.
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Who cannot have laser vein removal done? +
· Not all veins are suitable for laser vein removal. Varicose veins or veins larger than 3 mm cannot be treated. · You should not have laser vein removal if you are pregnant. · Patients prone to photo seizures should not have laser vein removal. · Use of Accutane within 6 months. · If you are using photosensitive drugs, anticoagulants or blood thinners caution must be taken.
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How long will results last from vein therapy? +
After your initial course of treatments, the vessels that have been treated will be gone forever. However because those being treated are prone to developing these broken vessels, new ones may appear down the road. This is why touch-up treatments may be needed, when these will be needed is different for everyone. Touch-ups may be done once every few months or whenever the client notices new vessels appearing.
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Don’t I need these veins/capillaries for blood flow? +
No. Your body has miles and miles of blood vessels. When the damaged vessels are closed off and reabsorbed, your body will simply reroute blood flow through other healthy vessels.
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Why laser vein therapy over Sclerotherapy? +
Laser Vein Therapy has become very popular because it’s non-invasive and offers many advantages over Sclerotherapy, including the ease of treatment. Sclerotherapy may take many treatments, and each vein requires a separate injection. Tiny/matted spider veins are often extremely difficult to treat this way and may be too small to even be injected at all.However, this type of vein is easily treated with a laser. LVT has no needles involved. LVT is non-invasive.
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what are the risks of Sclerotherapy? +
Air bubbles, Allergic reaction and Severe blood clots. That is why laser vein therapy is better than injections.
For more info about Laser Vein Therapy request a consultation online or give us a call 403.719.6523!
