Do Laser Treatments Work for Spider Vein Removal?
Lasers are employed by various devices for spider vein removal. Some laser treatments are applied to the skin where a laser beam heats a vein through the skin’s surface. Other lasers are administered to the vein directly, when vein doctors insert a device with a laser fiber tip into your skin. The type of laser used for your spider vein depends on the location of the telangiectasia and the vein specialist conducting treatment.
Small spider veins on the face might respond to surface lasers, while spider veins in the legs might require an endovenous laser treatment. Cosmetic vein centers aren’t trained in most endovenous procedures. So, book an appointment with a board certified vein doctor in New Jersey who is trained in all types of vein treatments.
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Are Lasers Effective for Varicose Vein Treatment?
Some lasers are effective for varicose veins in certain patients. Endovenous laser treatment can close off varicose veins by heating the vein’s walls until they scar shut. Endovenous lasers can also treat valve failure in deeper veins that produces varicose veins. Surface lasers are not effective against varicose veins, since varicosities are larger and often deeper than facial spider veins. If you have varicose veins in your legs, avoid dermatology and cosmetic surgery centers, since they primarily use surface lasers. Choose an accredited medical center that is equipped with a wide range of endovenous treatments.
How Do Surface and Endovenous Laser Treatment Differ?
Surface lasers heat the vein through the skin. As such, they can only treat small spider veins near the surface, since the amount of thermal energy required to travel deeper would be too damaging to the skin. Endovenous lasers deliver heat directly to the vein’s walls. With endovenous laser treatments, vein doctors inject tumescent anesthesia around the vein to protect surrounding tissue from heat. Then they position a fiber tip directly on the vein and activate it with thermal energy. This allows these lasers to treat larger, deeper veins without damaging the skin at the surface or the area adjacent to the vein.
Does a Laser Beam or Laser Fiber Work Best for Vein Removal?
For varicose veins and spider veins in the legs, an endovenous laser fiber works better. Some small veins in the face work well with surface laser beams. But some patients’ skin is too sensitive for surface lasers, so they might be better suited to sclerotherapy. There are several alternatives to surface and endovenous laser treatments, so read on to learn which method is right for you.
Is Laser Vein Removal Better Than Vascular Surgery?
For most patients, any endovenous procedure is better than vascular surgery. That includes endovenous lasers, as well as radiofrequency, adhesives, and sclerosants. Vascular surgery is no longer a first-line treatment for veins. There are newer, gentler ways to “remove” veins by eliminating them inside the body instead of cutting them out. Visit our Harvard-trained vein experts for an assessment of your venous anatomy. If you have blood clots or severe tortuosity, surgery might be advised. But most patients are better suited to non-surgical vein removal.
Are Lasers the Best Way to Treat Spider Veins in 2022?
Lasers are one way to treat spider veins, but there are equally effective alternatives, including sclerotherapy. With sclerotherapy, doctors inject a medicine that acts like a detergent in the vein, causing irritation that forces the vein to close. Since this is a non-thermal procedure, it does not require lasers or tumescent anesthesia, and it’s widely considered the first option to try for spider veins. Patients who are allergic to sclerosants should opt for laser or radiofrequency ablation instead. But for most patients, sclerotherapy is a great solution for spider veins.
Are Lasers the Best Way to Treat Varicose Veins in 2022?
Lasers aren’t always the best way to treat varicose veins in 2022. Surface lasers are ineffective against varicose veins. Endovenous lasers are effective for some patients, but others are sensitive to the heat. For these patients, a lower-heat thermal treatment like radiofrequency ablation works better.
Some patients are allergic to tumescent anesthesia, so vein adhesives, mechanochemical ablation, or sclerotherapy work better for them. Our vein doctors are highly trained in laser procedures and regularly perform them. But we often recommend radiofrequency ablation over laser treatment since it ablates veins at a lower temperature.
Can I Just Wear Compression Stockings for Problem Veins?
Some patients who wear compression stockings notice an improvement in symptoms like swelling, cramping, heaviness, and itching in the legs. But compression stockings aren’t safe for everyone, and they need to be properly fitted to work correctly. Ask your doctor before trying compression stockings, especially if you take any medications or have any health conditions.
Compression stockings won’t remove varicose veins or spider veins. So, it’s a choice between long-term symptom management versus quickly eliminating symptoms and problem veins. Minimally invasive treatments are fast, painless, and often covered entirely by insurance. So, most patients find that vein treatments are far superior to compression. In addition, if you have vein disease, blood clots, venous ulcerations, or profuse bleeding, treatment is a medical necessity.
Does Laser Vein Removal Really Work for My Issues?
Does laser vein removal really work for your specific issue? A vein doctor can answer that question quickly with an assessment. Some superficial spider veins require lasers, but others respond better to sclerotherapy. Varicose veins in the legs might be suited to endovenous laser treatment, or they might require radiofrequency, vein adhesives, foamed sclerosants, or mechanochemical ablation.
Only a vein doctor with diagnostic tools like Duplex Ultrasound can determine the best course of action. Identifying any blood clots, broken valves, problematic connecting veins, and vein disease is key to successful vein treatment. So, choose a board certified vein specialist, not a cosmetic vein specialist. These doctors customize treatment, even combining methods if needed, for a flawless result.
Where Should I Get My Veins Treated in New Jersey?
The best place to get your veins treated is a vein center that is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission and run by board certified vein doctors. Most vein centers lack both of these qualifications, so choose your location wisely. In New Jersey, visit our award-winning vein treatment centers in Paramus, Clifton, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park for vein care that bears these distinctions. Our experts will determine the best treatment for your vein problem and administer it with state-of-the-art technology.