Health News / March 2008
Treatment of Face and Leg Veins
As we age and experience life, changes occur and one of these is the development of facial veins (telangectasia) and spider veins on our legs. Men seem to have more on their face and rarely on their legs and women primarily complain of leg spider veins. Fortunately there is a solution. We now have laser technology to improve these unsightly blemishes and one of the signs of aging.
How does the laser work? The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates the skin and targets the blood vessels. This energy beam is then converted to heat in the blood vessel creating an inflammatory response. Then over the next few weeks the spider veins or telangectasia fades away. We are tricking the body to remove these unwanted vessels.
What should I expect during treatment? There is a slight discomfort with each pulse of the laser which the majority of the people tolerate very well. There may be some redness immediately after the treatment which fades away after a few hours. Also the treated veins will look darker until they fade away. What can I expect after treatment? There may be a feeling as if you had a mild sunburn for a few hours. We also recommend that you avoid sun exposure for the first few days after treatment and use a high quality sunscreen during this time. Gently cleanse the skin; avoid scrubbing with abrasive cleansers. Are there side effects? Your risks are minimal. Side effects may include redness, swelling, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, blistering or purpura (a laser bruise) in the treated area. These usually do not last more than few days. Permanent side effects are rare.
Remember laser treatment of spider veins and facial telangectasia is a process. Do not come into the office or spa the week before you are leaving on vacation to have your spider veins treated. As stated earlier, we are tricking the body into reabsorbing the veins. This takes a few weeks to happen. Also, a re- treatment may be necessary. Therefore, late fall, winter or early spring is the best time to treat these unwanted veins. Don't wait. Only some much tan can cover up the veins and too much sun exposure is another aging factor.
Paul A. Blair, MD is a board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon. His address is 3667 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane, WV 25526. His phone is 304- 201-3223. He is the full time on-site medical director of Alex-Alexa Medical Spa.
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