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Spider Vein Removal
CoolGlide® Vein Therapy
Millions of women and men are bothered by unsightly varicose and spider veins on their faces and legs. Traditionally, they have turned to sclerotherapy to clear up these unwanted veins. Now there’s a modern alternative – Cutera CoolGlide® medical lasers. This technology provides safe and effective non-surgical spider and varicose vein laser treatment that involves minimal discomfort.
How it works
CoolGlide laser treatments deliver a precise dosage of energy to each vein. During your treatment, light energy is delivered through a special laser hand-piece to the targeted vein, in a series of brief pulses. The light energy is absorbed by the blood vessels, but not the surrounding tissue. This heat absorption causes a coagulation of the blood vessel, which is subsequently absorbed by your body.
These simple treatments effectively treat both spider veins and varicose veins. Spider veins, or telangiectasias, are those small red, blue and purple blood vessels that appear most frequently on the face and thighs. Varicose veins are usually larger than 1/4 inch in diameter and may appear raised with a bluish color. They may also be related to more serious vein disorders and require a careful evaluation by your doctor prior to treatment.
What to Expect
Prior to treatment we will review your medical history to determine how long you have had a problem with your veins and the severity of the problem. We need to determine your skin type and if there has been any prior surgery or treatment on your veins. We may test to determine if there are any underlying venous problems. If there are, further testing may be advised before laser vein therapy is attempted.
First, we identify the veins to be treated. We then proceed to deliver pulses of light (laser) energy along the length of the vessel, targeting the larger veins first. The light energy causes the blood within the vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessels, which are then absorbed by your body. Most laser therapy patients report little discomfort. Some experience a mild burning sensation when we pulse the laser.
For the maximum long-term resolution, multiple treatments spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart may be necessary. The number of treatments required varies with the size and depth of each vein. However, if new veins appear, additional treatments are required. Laser vein therapy may be combined with sclerotherapy.
Recovery & Results
After treatment, most patients have bruising around the treated areas that usually disappears after the first week. A tan or brownish pigment may persist for a few weeks when larger veins are involved. Keys to success with laser leg vein therapy include the avoidance of hot baths and strenuous exercise, and may include the short-term use of compression stockings.
Patients are generally encouraged to resume most normal activities immediately. We do ask that you refrain from vigorous activities for the first 24 hours. Most patients find that the majority of the treated veins have shown significant improvement within 2 to 6 weeks of treatment. Most of our CoolGlide patients enjoy the comfort and the look of legs free from unsightly red, blue, and purple veins.
