Laser Vein RemovalDenver

At RESTOR Medical Spa we use a state-of-the-art 1064nm Nd:YAG laser for our vein treatment in Denver – the most effective type of laser used to remove unwanted veins and hair.

Patients can expect to feel like they have a sunburn for a few hours after the treatment, and can return to their normal activities in 24 hours. You may experience mild swelling and possibly some bruising that will last about 2 weeks. Avoiding the sun is very important after a laser treatment to remove spider veins – as exposure to the sun can result in darkening of the skin in the area treated. We recommend keeping the area covered for several weeks – or wearing a high-SPF, zinc or titanium-based sunscreen.

The veins will not disappear immediately. They will initially darken as they collapse, and then fade slowly over several weeks as they are gradually resorbed by the body. Do not expect to see your final results for 8-12 weeks after your treatments for laser vein removal in Denver are finished.

Most people say the laser pulse feels like a small rubber band snapping against your skin. Typically our patients do not require medication or an anesthetic; however some opt to use a topical anesthetic. Discomfort is reduced by application of the cooling spray on the skin during the treatment. Additionally, the laser settings can be adjusted by your provider if they are causing too much discomfort.

Often people describe their first laser treatment as being the most uncomfortable. This is because during each treatment a percentage of blood vessels is removed, leading to less energy being absorbed into the skin in subsequent sessions.

After a laser vein treatment you will have short-term redness and irritation (swelling) of the treated area that looks almost like a “cat scratch” on the skin. This usually lasts a couple hours but occasionally lasts for a few days.

Some people experience mild pigmentation changes after treatment, but these are temporary. Other patients suffer from slight swelling, bruising, or redness in the treated areas, but again, this is temporary. Normal physical activity can be resumed after 24 hours in most cases, but care should be taken to avoid sun exposure and to wear a sunblock of 30 SPF or higher.

Complications are very rare, but may include:

• Blistering or crusting over the treated area rarely occurs – but is treated with Neosporin and aloe vera ointment and usually heals within a week.
• Hypo- (lighter) or hyper-pigmentation (darker) in the treated area. Fortunately this occurs in less than 3% of treatments. This infrequently problem usually resolves after several months. You can lessen the risk of this by keeping the treated area out of the sun for several weeks before and after your treatment.

The veins that we remove during your laser vein removal in Denver are gone forever – but you have small blood vessels over your entire body, flowing just below the skin. The same processes that created the spider veins in the first place are still occurring under the skin, and will result in the formation of new broken capillaries and spider veins over time. This is especially true if there is a family history of spider or varicose veins, or if you become pregnant or take oral contraceptives. We recommend a touch-up treatment every 1-2 years to address any new veins that appear.

The number of treatments needed depends on how many veins you have, the size and resilience of the veins, and how well your body responds to the laser treatment. Most people will have 70%-90% improvement after completing a course of treatments. 

Generally speaking, leg veins need 3-4 treatments, while facial veins can typically be treated with 1-2 sessions.  Treatments can be repeated at 6 - 8 week intervals to allow for complete healing, and you may have as many vein treatments in Denver as you wish to achieve your desired results.

Regrowth of tiny blood vessels is very unpredictable. Unfortunately, you cannot stop the process of aging that sometimes creates new blood vessel blemishes. You can, however, protect your skin from further sun damage that can cause some blood vessels to appear by wearing sunblock SPF 45 – 60 and protective clothing.

We recommend support stockings (graded compression stockings) for the legs to reduce the growth of large varicose veins, but it doesn’t usually curb the growth of the smallest blood vessels (less than 3mm) on the legs.

Lighter colored skin responds the best to laser energy – so for the best results, we suggest that you do not tan, use sunless tanning products, or expose the treatment area to the sun for the three weeks leading up to your laser vein treatment. If you’ve recently tanned, you may require additional treatment sessions to achieve the optimal vein removal, and we may need to reschedule the treatment if you have had recent sun exposure.