Laser Treatment for Leg Veins: What You Need to Know

If you’re bothered by visible veins on your legs — whether they’re spider veins or the more troublesome and larger varicose veins — they’re more than an eyesore. Spider veins and varicose veins are blood vessels that no longer function the way they should.

Broken blood vessels can slow your circulation and lead to issues with your skin as well as pain when you walk. Laser vein removal treatments reduce or eliminate both spider veins and varicose veins so your circulation can reroute itself to healthier blood vessels.

As an added bonus, your legs look and feel better, too. Without varicose veins or spider veins, your legs appear youthful and you’ll feel great in shorts or a bathing suit.

Our trained and expert team at Dermatology Institute & Skin Care Center in Santa Monica, California, want you to have beautiful legs free of dysfunctional veins. We offer laser vein removal treatments with the state-of-the-art Candela Vbeam laser.

Ready for clear, beautiful legs again? Here’s what you need to know about your upcoming laser leg vein treatments.

Prepare for your treatment
When you arrive for your leg vein laser treatment consultation, we take a complete medical history and thoroughly examine your legs, too. Let us know about any allergies you have and any medications you take. Also, be sure to alert us if you have a bleeding disorder.

Some medications — including herbs and supplements — may thin your blood, so we ask you to discontinue using them for a few days before your procedure. If your varicose veins are large, we may also ask that you refrain from eating or drinking for eight hours before your procedure.

Arrange for somebody to drive you home after your procedure. The sedative and pain medication we give you may make you sleepy. Your legs might also feel slightly sore or swollen after laser leg vein treatment.

The treatment is fast
You change into a hospital gown for your procedure and lie comfortably on the treatment table. We give you special protective goggles to shield your eyes from the lasers.

We then numb the treatment area. If needed, we could also give you a sedative before your procedure to keep you relaxed.

For spider veins, the laser doesn’t even touch the surface of your skin. For varicose veins, we may insert a catheter into the large, bulky vein through a small incision. We then send the laser energy through the catheter and directly into the vein.

We watch the procedure on a special monitor, so we can be sure the laser’s energy targets where it’s needed most. We use ultrasound energy to see inside the vein as we gently collapse it with the laser.

Spider veins disappear quickly
Spider veins are so small and thin that they may disappear directly after your laser treatment. The laser targets the red, blue, and purple pigments that are in the broken blood vessels.

The heat from the laser instantly evaporates the spider veins. But your nearby skin is untouched.

The treatment area goes through a healing process that actually improves the skin where your spider veins once were. Laser energy triggers neocollagenesis, which is when your skin produces new, strengthening proteins, such as collagen and elastin.

Varicose veins take more time
Not surprisingly, large, twisted, and bloated varicose veins don’t suddenly evaporate after one laser treatment. In fact, you may need three or more treatments to clear them to your satisfaction.

During your first laser treatment, the heat from the laser collapses the broken varicose veins. You notice that they then look darker for a time, as your body starts to resorb them. Each treatment further breaks down the dysfunctional veins.

Varicose veins may take up to three months to disappear. You may also need to wear compression stockings after each treatment to keep your legs comfortable and the circulation flowing. You return to normal activities right after your treatment.

Winter is a great time to begin laser leg vein treatments. First, you need to protect your legs from the sun after laser leg vein treatment so the winter’s clothing layers allow you to do that without even needing sunscreen.

Also, by the time the warm weather rolls around, your legs will be clear of varicose veins and spider veins. You’re ready for summer activities without worrying about revealing your legs in flattering clothes.

Lasers rid your legs of broken veins. Call our friendly staff to set up a laser treatment today. You can also send us an online message.