What is Vascular Reduction?

Vascular Reduction uses Nd:YAG 1064 (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) is a crystal that is used as a laser medium for solid-state lasers. The laser light pulses target red pigment (haemoglobin). The 1064 laser light is delivered through the skin and into the vein. The energy is absorbed and the vein walls collapse and seals shut. Eliminating veins with the 1064nm laser is quick and effective for most individuals.

What type of vascular lesions does it treat?

Spider and thread veins in the face (cheek, temporal region, nasal dorsum, forehead) and legs.
Vascular birthmark (capillary vascular malformation)
Varicose veins
Facial veins (telangiectasia)
Haemangioma(a vascular tumour)

What to expect?

The laser tip is cold which helps protect the skin and decrease the mild stinging produced by the treatment. Most people who have had sclerotherapy or cauterization of veins in the past report that laser vein therapy is a much less uncomfortable experience. There's no discomfort after a treatment although some redness and sometimes swelling over the veins may occur. Treated veins on the face may disappear immediately while red and blue leg veins will still be visible over several weeks after a treatment until they reabsorb. Larger greenish leg veins can take up to 12 weeks to fade.

How many treatments will I need?

Patients often find that one or two treatments are sufficient for most unwanted facial veins on the cheeks and chin, although nasal veins may require several treatments. Unless they're caused by underlying venous disease, an average of three treatments will effectively reduce most treated spider veins on the legs.

Some spider veins are the result of deeper vein problems and may not respond to either laser treatments or sclerotherapy. Signs of deeper vein problems requiring more extensive treatments and are best evaluated by consulting a vascular surgeon, are a lot of blue veins on the feet and ankles, starburst clusters of veins where multiple veins radiate out from the center, and veins found on the inside of the knees.