Spider Vein Removal

IPL and laser spider vein removal can improve the signs of sun damage, rosacea, and red spots on the face, hands and body. It has also been used to reduce the appearance small blood vessels most often seen on cheeks, chin, and around the nose.

What IPL Spider Vein Removal Is:

Spider Vein Removal treatment is a nonablative and minimally- or non-invasive treatment that rejuvenates your skin using either injections called sclerotherapy, or the remarkable technology of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), the Naturalase Laser, or the Excel HR laser.

What Sclerotherapy Is:

Larger blood vessels may require treatment with injections, also known as sclerotherapy, for removal of the larger vessels that feed the small capillaries on the surface. Sclerotherapy is the gold standard treatment for spider veins less than 1 mm in diameter. A fine needle is used to introduce a liquid chemical into the vein that causes the vein walls to swell, stick together, and seal shut. This stops the flow of blood, and the vein turns into scar tissue. In a few weeks, the vein should fade. You can return to normal activity right after treatment.

Effective Treatment For:

Reducing rosacea
Reducing spider veins
Reducing greenish reticular veins
Reducing cherry angiomas
Reducing port-wine stains

What To Expect:

Multiple treatments with either the sclerotherapy or the IPL may be necessary for full effect. If treatments are performed on the legs, you will need to wear compression hose immediately after the procedure for a few days, for best results. The same vein may need to be treated more than once.

It takes a couple of weeks for the body to reabsorb the treated blood vessels. Factors, such as backpressure (from larger hidden blood vessels, from factors such as standing or sitting for long periods of time) can affect the results.

Once vessels are smaller after sclerotherapy, then lasers may be used to clean up the remaining smaller vessels.

Possible Side Effects:

Stinging, red and raised patches of skin, or bruises where the injection was made. These usually go away shortly after treatment.
Spots, brown lines, or groups of fine red blood vessels around the treated vein. These also usually go away shortly after treatment.
Lumps of blood that get trapped in vein and cause inflammation. This is not dangerous. You can relieve swelling by applying heat and taking aspirin. Your doctor can drain the trapped blood with a small pinprick at a follow-up visit.

Treatment Details:

Treatments take a few minutes, depending on the size of the area treated, and does not include pre-treatment numbing cream application.
Treatments are usually done every 4 to 6 weeks. You may be asked to wear gradient compression stockings after sclerotherapy to help with healing and decrease swelling. This treatment is very effective when done correctly.

Downtime

None with IPL: as the skin in intact, just wear sunscreen with SPF 30 to protect thereafter.
With sclerotherapy, you will need to wear compression garments for a few days, and avoid swimming in lakewater for the next 24 hours to prevent infection in the injection sites.