FAQ

Q: Who are candidates for treatment?
A: Anyone can be treated, at almost any age. Light and dark-skinned individuals can safely and effectively benefit from laser therapy. Patients that are not good candidates include those on blood thinners, those with serious illness, dark suntans, photosensitivity disorders, diabetes, bleeding disorder, or those taking photosensitizing medications.

Q: How many treatments are required?
A: The number of treatments to provide you with the results you want to achieve will be determined during your initial consultation session, at no cost, where a personalized treatment plan will be developed.

Q: What does the treatment involve?
A: A number of treatment options are available that involve different procedures such as laser therapy, sclerotherapy injection therapy, endovenous laser therapy, phlebectomy and stripping and ligation.

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Q: Are their side effects and recovery time?
A: Most treatments have minimal side effect and recovery time. See above for definititions.

Q: What kind of results can I expect?
A: You will see gradual improvements. Many patients experience 60-80% of the treated vessels resolved. During your initial consultation you will be advised as to the number of treatments necessary to achieve the results you want.

Q: What causes unsightly and even painful veins?
A: Pregnancy, prolonged standing and heredity are the primary causes of unsightly and sometimes painful varicose and spider veins. Age may increase the appearance of unsightly veins.

Q: Can you treat unsightly veins on my face?
A: Yes, laser therapy may be the appropriate treatment method to reduce the appearance of these veins, both on your face and legs.

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Q: What are varicose veins?
A: Varicose veins usually announce themselves as bulging, bluish cords running just beneath the surface of your skin. They can appear anywhere in the body but most often affect legs and feet. Visible swollen and twisted veins -- sometimes surrounded by patches of flooded capillaries known as spider-burst veins -- are considered superficial varicose veins. Although they can be painful and disfiguring, they are usually harmless. When inflamed, they become tender to the touch and can hinder circulation to the point of causing swollen ankles, itchy skin and aching in the affected limb.

Besides a surface network of veins, your legs have an interior, or deep, venous network. On rare occasions, an interior leg vein becomes varicose. Such deep varicose veins are usually not visible, but they can cause swelling or aching throughout the leg. Deep varicose veins may be sites where blood clots can form. Varicose veins are a relatively common condition, and for many people they are a family trait. Women are at least twice as likely as men to develop them. In the United States alone, nearly 10 percent of all adult men and 20 percent of adult women are affected by them to some degree, bringing the total affected to more than 20 million people. Treatment includes endovenous laser therapy, sclereotherapy injection therapy, phlebectomy, stripping and ligation.

Symptoms may include:

• Prominent dark blue blood vessels, especially in the legs and feet.
• Aching, tender, heavy or sore legs; often accompanied by swelling in the ankles or feet after standing for any length of time.

Q: What are spider veins?
A: Red or purple delicate clusters of veins that mar your skin surface are spider veins, also known as broken capillaries or telangiectasia. They form mostly on the legs, but also arise on the face and other areas.

Sometimes they resemble a spider. Other times they look more like a tiny branching bush or a stack of thin, separate lines. Spider veins are small clumps of unessential blood vessels that are located near the surface of the skin and have expanded, becoming visible. A number of factors may help trigger their appearance, including genetic makeup, pregnancy, excess sun exposure, weight gain, certain medications, and birth control pills, as well as trauma to the skin, like a hard pinch.

Sometimes the veins trigger aching, swelling, burning, and cramping, but usually they are no health hazard. Procedures for eliminating some of these symptoms and diminishing their appearance include sclereotherapy injection therapy or laser surgery.

Q: What is the best treatment for small spider veins?
A: Procedures for eliminating some of these symptoms and diminishing their appearance include sclerotherapy injection therapy or laser surgery.

Q: What is the best treatment for varicose veins?
A: A variety of treatments can be use such as endovenous laser therapy, sclerotherapy injection therapy, phlebectomy, stripping and ligation. A personalized treatment plan will be recommended by one of our board certified surgeons during your initial consultation.

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