LASER SPIDER VEIN REMOVAL

The Nd:YAG laser is the gold standard laser technology for treatment of vascular lesions on the body and superficial leg veins. This laser is very safe with minimal redness and down time. Small broken vessels can be treated and may require only one treatment, although larger areas may require multiple treatments.

Q&A with Dr. Seiler

Why does Dr. Seiler use a laser for spider vein removal instead of injectable sclerotherapy?

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This is a very common question from patients especially those that have had the injections (sclerotherapy) for spider veins in the past. The laser I use specifically targets the individual small vessel. For patients that have small spider veins (size of pen mark), the laser treatment gets the vessel much easier and quicker with less downtime and the patient does not have to wear compression stockings. The laser procedure is quicker and usually more tolerable than the injections. Also, with the injections, if you don’t get the injection inside the vessel then it will not work. The laser targets the vessel from outside the skin, so it is impossible to “miss” the vessel (like you can with the injections). Finally, the result success rate is better with the laser and there is minimal chance that the vessel just won’t go away like there is that chance with the injections.

What is the preparation for spider vein treatment?

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There is little that the patient needs to do before the procedure. As with most other laser procedures, the patient cannot be freshly tanned or have tanned skin. So it is better to do this procedure during the cold months. You will discuss your medical history with Dr. Seiler to make sure that you have no contraindications and are a good candidate for the procedure. Afterwards, you can have some bruising so we encourage icing the area treated and using good skin care and sunblock. Although it will help, you do not have to wear compression stockings afterwards.

What is the down time after laser spider vein treatment?

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The downtime is really not bad. You will have a little bruising with it. People that “tend to bruise easily” may have days to weeks of mild bruising, but I tell my patients it is just a little bruising directly surrounding the vessels treated and not an “area bruise” as if they bumped into a table. The small red vessels do not usually bruise much, but the larger blue ones can bruise. The bruising is also a sign of a good result because the vessel has absorbed enough laser energy to be shut down. Patients tolerate the bruising very well and it is usually not as bad as they expected.

How many treatments are required for laser spider vein treatment?

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To properly treat, shut down, and “get rid of” spider veins, patients typically require 1-3 treatments. The smaller red vessels usually require only 1-2 treatments, but the larger blue vessels may require 2-3 treatments. I usually perform the treatments 4-8 weeks apart depending on how the area looks at the two week follow-up. Once the vessels are properly treated, they will be permanently gone. However, that does not keep patients from getting new vessels near the previously treated area. So, if the patient is prone to getting spider veins, he/she may need an occasional “maintenance” treatment to treat new vessels.

Is laser spider vein treatment painful?

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I am very honest with my patients so I tell them that there is some pain involved. The treatment is usually short so the patient tolerates the treatment well. The pain is certainly not excruciating and patients do not ask me to stop. They know that the treatment is worth a little pain! Patients who have had spider vein injection treatments before usually say that the laser does not hurt as much. I have had it done, it doesn’t feel good, but it works so well that it is worth it.

To make an appointment with Dr. Seiler please contact us at 205-870-0204