Laser Treatment of Spider Veins

Spider veins, also known as telangiectasias, are small, thin blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They appear most commonly on the face and legs, and may look like a series of lines, tree branches or spider webs. Spider veins are caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, pregnancy and weigh gain, and are estimated to affect nearly half of all adult women in the United States. Some people experience painful symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling and cramping from spider veins, while others are bothered by their appearance.

While spider and varicose veins have been successfully treated for years through conventional methods such as stripping, ligation and sclerotherapy, these procedures often cause pain and other unwanted symptoms during and after treatment. Laser procedures offer patients more precise results through a minimally invasive procedure, which heats the vein and causes it to close, rather than removing it surgically.

Laser vein treatment is ideal for any patient who is in good overall health, does not smoke and has no blood diseases or problems with bleeding. It is important for patients to have realistic expectations for this procedure, and to seek improvement for the appearance of their spider veins for their own personal reasons.

Benefits of Laser Treatment

Laser treatment for spider veins offers patients:

Fewer side effects
Less trauma
Shorter treatment time

Shorter recovery time
Minimal downtime

There are several different types of laser treatment available for spider veins, including endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), which treats large veins by passing a laser fiber through a catheter directly into the vein. Veins just under the surface of the skin can often be treated with a simpler procedure. Your doctor will decide which procedure is best for you after performing a physical examination and going over your medical history and general health.

Laser Procedure

During laser treatment of spider veins, light energy is delivered through a handheld device in a series of short pulses to the targeted veins. The vein absorbs the light energy and heats up, causing it to eventually shrink and disappear. Blood flow is automatically redirected to healthy veins.

In most cases, no anesthetic is required for this treatment. The laser has built-in technology that cools the surface of the skin as the beam penetrates the skin, minimizing pain and damage to the skin surface. You may experience a slight tingling sensation during the procedure as the laser energy is delivered to the targeted vein.

Each treatment session takes less than 20 minutes to perform. Results are often noticeable after two to six treatment sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. Larger veins may require additional treatments.

Recovery and Results

After laser vein treatment, patients may experience slight redness and bruising in the treated area, and may also notice a slight bump on the skin. These symptoms are usually mild and will go away on their own within a few days. Patients who undergo endovenous laser treatment may be required to wear compression stockings for about a week after the procedure.

The results of this procedure are not visible right away, and will instead appear gradually over the next few weeks. The treated veins will slowly develop scar tissue and begin to close, as blood flow is diverted to healthier veins. The appearance of the treated veins will significantly improve over this time as well.

Laser vein treatment is extremely successful in closing affected veins and improving the appearance of the legs through a less invasive procedure. More than 98% of patients are satisfied with the results of this procedure, and most results are permanent.