With laser leg vein therapy at Rocky Mountain Laser Center, we can safely remove shallow spider veins in your legs with just 15- to 30-minute treatment sessions.
About 60 percent of adults suffer from spider, reticular and other shallow leg veins. Here at Rocky Mountain Laser Center, we offer therapies to safely remove these unsightly but painless veins. Spider veins appear as jagged dark pink lines just below the skin, while reticular veins are somewhat larger and have a bluish color. In just a few 15 to 30 minute sessions you can reduce the appearance of these unattractive veins.
Recent advances in medical laser therapy have enabled physicians to use these treatments for a wide range of non-invasive cosmetic procedures, making smoother, clearer facial and body skin available with relatively quick, painless sessions in a licensed clinical setting. Growing rapidly in popularity, today’s laser therapy is safe and effective for treatment of spider veins, whether on the face, neck, chest, legs or anywhere else on the body. Laser vein removal is fast, safe and effective and causes very few side effects. Patients can resume regular activities immediately after the procedure.
Who is a Candidate for Treatment?
Men, women and even children of all skin colors can be safely and effectively threated with laser therapy. However, people with very dark suntans, photosensitivity conditions, bleeding disorders or diabetes may not be able to receive this therapy. Also, due to bleeding risks, patients using blood thinners or who have a serious illness may not be suitable candidates.
What Causes Spider Veins?
Almost twice as common in women as in men, these veins can be caused by a variety of factors. They are often found in people whose jobs require them to spend long hours on their feet, such as nurses, teachers and waiters/waitresses. Genetic factors can play a part, as can obesity, pregnancy or prior surgery or trauma to the leg.
How Many Treatments are Needed?
There is no set number of treatments to remedy leg veins, as each patient must be evaluated on the basis of the size and extent of the veins and the body’s ability to heal. Prior to treatment, you will receive an initial consultation during which your case will be evaluated and you will be told the optimal number of treatments that will likely be needed for best results. Treatments are usually scheduled every six to 12 weeks until the desired results are achieved.
What Does Treatment Involve?
Each session takes 15 to 30 minutes, during which veins are targeted with the laser. The laser heat damages the walls of the veins, to which the body reacts by beginning a natural healing process during which veins shrink and become less visible. In some cases, spider veins disappear altogether. Medical studies have documented consistent exceptional results on treatment of many vein conditions with laser therapy. Because each laser treatment is customized for the individual patient and type of vein disorder, it can be used on people with deep veins that have not responded well to other types of treatment.
Are There Side Effects?
Virtually no ‘down time’ is involved with laser therapy and patients can immediately resume normal activity. Pain is quite minor and any swelling or mild bruising that follows treatment almost always resolves quickly. Generally, patients are instructed to limit sun exposure after treatment to minimize risk of complications. One possible side effect is hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (spots of skin that are lighter or darker than nearby non-treated skin) of the skin around the treatment area.
What kinds of Veins Can Laser Therapy Treat?
Laser treatment can be used effectively on a range of leg veins, and is particularly effective in the treatment of shallow spider veins and reticular veins.
Very commonly seen on the legs, spider veins are thin, jagged veins cause by the dilation of tiny blood vessels just underneath the skin. When the pressure inside the vein increases, it overcomes the resistance of the vein wall and creates the fine red lines characterizing spider veins. The condition is more pronounced in women with reduced estrogen levels.
Reticular veins are larger than spider veins and are generally bluish in color. These veins are created when veins dilate due to excessive venous pressure and, though fairly large, they are not classified as varicose veins.