Are you looking for a non-invasive way to remove the appearance of deep blue veins on your legs or smaller, pink and red facial veins? VITAHL Chicago offers laser vein removal therapy — a safe, effective alternative to more invasive vein removal treatments.
Laser vein removal therapy is a non-invasive, quick alternative to other vein removal treatments like sclerotherapy. The laser used in this treatment targets specific blood vessels without affecting the surrounding tissues. The light is specifically absorbed by hemoglobin in the veins, gently heating the vessels causing them to collapse. The treated blood vessels are then reabsorbed by your body through its natural healing processes. Laser vein treatments have minimal downtime and discomfort compared to other vein removal treatments. Results of laser vein removal therapy can be immediate, but most veins take several weeks to months to be fully reabsorbed by the body.
Laser vein treatment is a safe, non-invasive way to treat discolored veins which may concern you. The treatment is fast, pain-free, has little to no downtime and gives patients permanent results.
Laser vein treatment has some side effects, most of which are mild, in addition to a few rarer side effects. Common side effects of treatment include redness in the treatment area and light swelling. These indications may resemble small “bug bites” in size, shape and overall appearance. These symptoms usually resolve within a couple of days. A more rare side effect is bruising which, should it occur, tends to resolve itself within seven to ten days. Bring up any side effects which may concern you with your doctor.
Laser vein treatment is ideal for the correction of several common vein anomalies which include:
Laser vein therapy has a few contraindications which will exclude some individuals from having the treatment. Varicose veins, for example, cannot be treated by laser vein therapy treatment and will instead require a sclerotherapy treatment and, in more severe cases, surgery. Other contraindications for laser vein treatment include pregnancy, skin cancer, current use of blood thinning medications, use of the acne medication, such as Accutane, Gold Therapy, which can lead to skin discoloration, use of photosensitizing drugs, diabetes, herpes or vitiligo, and permanent makeup or tattoos in the treatment area.
You will not have many preparations to make before having your laser vein treatment. However, it will be important for you to avoid excess sun exposure as much as possible before your treatment, and if you are in the sun, you should wear sunscreen whenever possible. Sun exposure can increase the melanin content in your skin which can adversely affect the results of your treatment.
During your treatment, you will experience repeated, slight stinging sensations from the laser pulses which may feel like a small rubber bands snapping on your skin. The handpiece itself is self-cooling to minimize discomfort during your treatment. No local anesthetics or pain medication are usually required, but you can choose to have topical anesthetics applied before your treatment if you are concerned about pain.
The number of treatments needed to effectively eliminate the veins which concern you will vary depending on the severity of the veins being treated. Generally, most patients require between one to three treatment sessions with six weeks in between each session.
Immediately following the treatment, you may experience some temporary redness, swelling or bruising around the treated area. These side effects generally subside within a few hours following the treatment. You may experience some change in skin pigmentation, but this will eventually disappear and return to normal with time. Usual activities and exercise can be resumed immediately following facial vein treatments; however, vein treatments in other areas will require a 24 to 48-hour break from vigorous exercise to ensure your results. No bandages or compression stockings will be required following treatment.
You may see improvements to your veins before you leave your doctor’s office. Your body will begin to absorb many smaller veins quickly. Smaller closed veins, for example, can be cleared by your body’s lymphatic system often within 12 weeks. Larger closed veins will take longer for your body to pass, but you can still expect these veins to be cleared from your body within six to nine months.
You will not have any downtime or recovery period after your laser vein treatment, and there are only a few things you should avoid immediately after your procedure to ensure optimum results. Your doctor will ask that you avoid strenuous activities as these will bring increased blood flow to the treatment areas and may open up newly closed veins. You may also need to avoid hot baths, hot tubs or saunas for the same reason. After 48 hours, however, you will no longer have any restrictions on your activities, nor will you have any other aftercare instructions to follow.
You can expect permanent results from your laser vein treatment. Once your veins have been closed by laser treatment, they will not open again — provided you follow your doctor’s instructions after your procedure — and soon after they will disappear permanently. Your body may create new veins in other locations of your body due to genetic factors, and these new veins may also eventually need laser treatment in the future. Talk to your doctor about this possible outcome if you have concerns.
The most common vein removal treatment is sclerotherapy. During this treatment, saline is injected into the vessel which irritates the lining of the blood vessel causing it to collapse and the blood to clot. Sclerotherapy generally requires one to three injections per vein to effectively treat the veins and multiple sessions are usually required. After treatment, patients generally are limited in activity and may be required to wear compression stockings for anywhere up to two weeks following treatment.
Are you interested in learning more about laser vein removal therapy? Schedule a complimentary consultation with VITAHL Chicago today! Dr. Tahl Humes and her team of cosmetic medicine specialists have multiple decades of combined experience in the practice of medicine and cosmetic medicine, and they strive to bring you the best and most effective non-invasive rejuvenation techniques to make the look you’ve dreamed about a reality.
Call 312-634-6100 today for your complimentary, in-person consultation with VITAHL Chicago. Don’t wait to find out if laser vein treatment is the right option for you, and while you are there, learn about the full suite of rejuvenation options available to you to rejuvenate your whole body. You can look your absolute best — with VITAHL!
