In your younger years, your veins probably did a wonderful job circulating your blood throughout your body while remaining largely unseen. But at some point, they weren’t all content to remain behind the scenes. Whether you’re now dealing with spider veins or varicose veins, you may wish to explore laser vein treatment. This popular, minimally invasive procedure uses focused light energy to target and fade unsightly veins — no incisions or downtime required! To learn more about what the treatment entails and how it works, simply scroll down.
What to Expect from a Laser Vein Treatment
If the idea of “zapping” your unwanted veins feels a little funny, you might find it helpful to learn more about the process. Laser vein treatments work by using focused beams of light to safely and precisely target problem veins, such as spider veins and small varicose veins. The procedure looks a little like this:
- Targeting the Veins: First, your healthcare provider will use a specialized laser device to emit a concentrated beam of light. Pigment in the blood within the vein absorbs that light.
- Heating & Shrinking the Vein: Next, the absorbed laser energy turns into heat, which damages the vein walls. This causes the vein to shrink, collapse, and seal shut over time.
- Closure: Once the vein is closed off, blood flow will naturally reroute to healthier veins. Contrary to what you might imagine, this can actually improve circulation.
- Natural Fading: Your body will gradually resorb the treated vein over the course of a few weeks or months, depending on its size and location.
A laser vein treatment is typically quick, requires little to no downtime, and is less invasive than surgical options. Most people require two to three sessions spaced a few weeks apart for optimal results.
What to Do Before Your Treatment
Before your treatment, you’ll need to schedule a consultation so that your healthcare provider can assess your veins, review your medical history, and determine if you’re a good candidate for laser vein treatment. Then, you’ll receive some pre-treatment instructions, such as the following:
- Avoid sun exposure on the treatment area for about 1–2 weeks before your appointment.
- Don’t use self-tanners or skin-lightening creams.
- Stop using certain medications, such as blood thinners and NSAIDS (ibuprofen, aspirin), as they can increase your risk of bruising and bleeding.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 24 hours before your appointment, as they can impact your circulation and the healing process.
- Skip lotions on the day of your appointment. The treatment area should be clean and free of any lotions, oils, deodorants, and perfumes.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You don’t want to wear anything that will rub against the area after the treatment is complete.
What to Do After Your Treatment
Following a laser vein treatment, your provider will give you specific instructions regarding your post-treatment care. The following instructions are common:
- Wear compression stockings. You may be encouraged to wear compression stockings for days or even weeks after your treatment. These can help improve your circulation, reduce swelling and bruising, and support the healing process.
- Apply cold compresses to ease swelling if needed.
- Use acetaminophen if needed to manage any discomfort. Avoid ibrupofen and other NSAIDs, as they could interfere with the healing process.
- Take it easy for a couple of days. Avoid strenuous workouts and heavy lifting as well as prolonged sitting and standing. Light walking is encouraged, as it keeps your blood moving and supports healthy healing.
- Keep the treated area clean and dry. Avoid hot baths, soaking, and scrubbing. Don’t apply any lotions or other harsh products for a couple of days.
- Stay out of the sun. The treated area will be sensitive to sunlight, so keep the area covered for at least two weeks or liberally apply SPF 30+ sunscreen.
If you notice any unusual side effects, such as increasing pain, redness, or skin discoloration, contact your provider.
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Are you tired of dressing to hide your varicose veins? Do you sigh every time you see your spider veins? Why not explore the possibilities presented by laser vein treatments?
At C.O.R.A.MED HRT & Regeneration, we offer several different laser therapies to tackle stubborn leg veins. We can use our powerful Gentle Max Pro (GMP) laser to quickly and easily erase your spider veins. In addition, we can use our Nordlys laser system to treat spider veins and other vascular lesions, including port wine stains.
If you live in the Springfield, Missouri, area, reach out to C.O.R.A.MED HRT & Regeneration Center today. Our dedicated care team is committed to providing personalized, accessible, and integrated care, focusing on the root causes of health issues and employing advanced medical technology. No referral is required, and C.O.R.A.MED will create a custom care plan tailored to your unique needs. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-207-2441 or send us a message online.
