Leg Vein Therapy
Unsightly veins, blood vessels and other benign vascular lesions are a problem for millions of men and women. For some people, the issues are primarily cosmetic, however for others, they sometimes pose a health risk that needs to be addressed.
It is estimated that over 60% of the population suffers from varicose veins and spider veins and they become more common with age. Over 40% of middle-aged women (age 40 to 50) report problems with unsightly leg veins and that percentage increases to 72% in women age 60 to 70.
Dr. Paull uses the VersaPulse® C Aesthetic Laser, a versatile, state-of-the-art laser to treat unsightly veins and blood vessels as well as other conditions such as birthmarks, pigmented lesions, age spots, scars and tattoos.What are Vericose Veins and Spider Veins?
Varicose veins are enlarged blood vessels that have widened due to a weakness in the vein wall or a problem with the valves that control the flow of blood. Spider veins are the small, superficial purple or red veins stretching like a web under the skin. Overexposure to the sun is believed to contribute to the dilation of spider veins, especially those found on the face.
Until recently, treatment for varicose and spider veins was a long and painful process that involved needles and other invasive procedures, sometimes even surgery. New light-based therapies are allowing physicians to successfully treat many types of unsightly veins, simply and non-invasively.
About Laser Treatment
The VersaPulse® C Aesthetic Laser is capable of treatment of blood vessels in the skin, the laser light causes heating of the inside of the vessel with clotting of the blood within the vessel. This results in destruction of the unwanted blood vessel. The laser tip continuously cools the site during the treatment, which reduces the heat damage to the skin.
Patient Expectations
The sensation experienced with laser treatment is similar to the sensation of repetitive snaps of a rubber band. Most patients do not require numbing medication, but topical or local anesthesia can be provided if necessary.
All persons in the laser treatment area wear eye protection. Eye shields or goggles will be provided for you during the treatment.
Sessions last about 15 minutes and are usually spaced 4-8 weeks apart. The number of sessions depends on the size, pigmentation and other factors of the treatment area. For example, most facial veins and brown spots can be eliminated in one or two sessions, whereas most tattoos require 5 to 10 sessions. All tattoos require more than one treatment session.
After treatment you may experience some swelling, redness, crusting or tenderness of the affected area. These will disappear in a short time and vary from patient to patient.
Limitations
Patients have been satisfied with VersaPulse laser treatment, however there are limitations on what can be achieved. For example, when treating small vessels on the face, not every vessel will be eliminated, the idea is to decrease the overall number of vessels. The preprocedure consultation with the doctor will give the you an idea of what to expect and also provide a discussion of the risks of treatment. Exactly how your particular treatment area will respond can only be determined during the course of treatment.