Does laser vein removal really work?
Laser light can destroy the vein without damaging your skin. Small spider veins may disappear immediately after treatment. Larger spider veins and varicose veins will darken, and you'll likely see them for 1 to 3 months before they disappear. To get complete clearing, you may need 3 or more treatments.
The published success of EVLA treatment is between 95-98%, with far fewer complications than surgery. With the addition of EVLA to ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, it is expected that varicose vein surgery will be performed much less frequently in the future.
The laser transmits photons that are absorbed by the blood cells in the veins, which generates heat that destroys the blood vessel. The damaged vein shrinks and eventually dissolves over time. Laser/light therapy is considered the treatment of choice for facial spider veins.
Laser Treatment for Facial Veins
Because the laser is so precisely focused, it does not harm surrounding skin tissue. Within a period of four to six weeks, the damaged vein in reabsorbed by the body and disappears, leaving the complexion with a more youthful, even, healthy look.
Sclerotherapy is best for superficial spider veins on the legs and hands. It's less expensive, faster, and more effective than laser treatment. Sclerotherapy is also better for people with darker skin. Lasers produce light that can cause discoloration in people with tanned skin.
Once your vein has been treated, it is unlikely that the same varicose vein will reemerge in the same location. If a varicose vein returns in the same spot after treatment, it reopens in a process known as recanalization. The risk of recanalization is rare — under five percent — but never zero.
There are many good reasons to get varicose vein surgery beyond simple aesthetics. It eliminates pain, discomfort and muscle fatigue in your legs, while also preventing health complications over the long term.
Leaving varicose veins untreated can lead to skin ulcers from small cuts or minor wounds that refuse to heal. The area will swell, and the tension from the veins prevents the swelling from receding. In order to treat the veins, you'll have to first treat the swelling.
The incidence of newly diagnosed DVT within 30-days of an ablation procedure was 3.2%. The risk for DVT decreased in recent years and LA was associated with a 18% decreased risk compared to RFA.
The veins will look worse before they look better and this will take up to three months after the last treatment. Skin staining and matting are the most common post-treatment side effects. Matting occurs when a new cluster of spider veins appear post treatment.
How many laser sessions are needed for spider veins?
Optimal results will happen after two to four treatments, with most patients achieving over 80% elimination of the targeted spider or varicose veins.
Laser Spider Veins Treatment of facial spider veins is the treatment of choice. Laser spider vein treatment may cause minor bruising which usually improves within a week, but often, recovery is immediate. Two to four treatments may be required to achieve your desired result.

As with all medical procedures, laser treatment for varicose veins may be associated with certain complications that may include, but are not limited to: Infection at the incision site. Bleeding. Blood clots.
Laser heat damages a vein, which makes scar tissue form. This scar tissue closes the vein. A closed vein loses its source of blood and the vein will disappear. Most commonly, this is performed on unsightly leg veins that patients want to be removed for cosmetic reasons.
You MUST avoid sun exposure and solarium treatments for at least 3 weeks after the treatment because the area treated will be more prone to burning and increased pigmentation during this period. Apply a 30+ sunblock frequently and daily for 1-2 weeks after treatment.
Laser treatment sends strong bursts of light onto the vein, which makes the vein slowly fade and disappear. No cuts or needles are used. Catheter-based procedures using radiofrequency or laser energy. This procedure is the preferred treatment for larger varicose veins.
The Nd:Yag laser is the current laser of choice for treating leg veins.
- Infection.
- Pain over the vein.
- Bleeding.
- Bruising.
- Nerve damage.
- Redness or swelling (inflammation) of the vein.
- Blood clots.
- Changes in skin color over the treated vein.
Risks include bleeding, scarring, infection, blood vessel injury, blood clots, nerve injury, chronic swelling, lymphatic damage, or accidental injury to other adjacent structures. New abnormal veins can also develop after vein procedures.
The treated blood vessels may initially seem darker for a couple weeks following laser treatment. This fades as the blood vessels is reabsorbed by the body. Some bruising can sometimes occur as well but is also expected to resolve within a couple weeks without treatment.
What is the cheapest way to get rid of varicose veins?
Compression therapy is the most conservative treatment option. Compression stockings are designed to apply specific pressure to the legs to alleviate discomfort and swelling and do not require a prescription.
When left untreated, varicose veins can result in skin ulcers, blood clots, increased pain and swelling, and even deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It's best to treat varicose veins as soon as possible to avoid these costly and, in the case of DVT, potentially life-threatening complications.
Usually used to treat spider or small varicose veins, sclerotherapy and microsclerotherapy involve injecting a chemical into the vein that creates scarring, causing the treated vein to close and eventually fade. Laser surgery is completely non-invasive and uses a medical laser to cause the vein to fade.
Stage 4: Over time, vein disease can lead to skin changes, including discoloration and thinning of the epidermis. It may begin to appear as though you have brown stains on your skin, which occurs as blood leaks from your blood vessels into the surrounding soft tissue.
Medicare and Medicare Advantage will cover varicose vein treatments when they are medically necessary, which is largely the case with large and bulging varicose veins. However, before Medicare can approve any treatments or procedures, your doctor must confirm that treatment is medically necessary.
The following are possible long-term side effects that patients may experience after undergoing radiofrequency vein ablation: Permanent nerve damage. Damaged tissue. Collapsed veins.
The standard practice of the Veins Unit is to advise patients to wear class two compression stockings for four weeks post-operatively.
Once the lining is irritated, it causes the vein to collapse on itself, shutting off the flow of blood through the vein. Instead, blood is rerouted to healthy veins to promote normal circulation in the area.
Reduced Health Risk. Most spider and varicose veins are harmless, if unattractive. But some large varicose veins can also threaten your health. It's important to seek out treatment as soon as possible to prevent serious health problems, like blood clots.
There are many supplements and oils, among other things, that health blogs and articles claim will rid your body of spider veins, but this is not true. You should not use natural remedies to get rid of your spider veins.
What do spider veins look like after laser?
A few days after treatment the veins look like cat scratches with a tiny, string-like scab appearance on the skin, but often without a scab one can feel. These marks can last for a few weeks after treatment, so it's best to treat spider veins before the summer.
Sclerotherapy injections provide faster resolution of problem veins, typically with less treatment session that laser. ⁴ Sclerotherapy injections usually only requires one or two treatment sessions for complete resolution, while laser typically requires more⁴.
Most patients require 2-4 sessions for the best results. For smaller spider veins, most patients typically see results in three to six weeks. However, for the treatment of larger spider veins, results may be seen after three to four months.
Laser Treatment Preparation May Cause Discomfort
The procedure typically begins with a topical numbing agent before injections of numbing medicine are placed throughout the length of the vein being treated. During these injections, you may experience mild pain or discomfort, similar to a mosquito bite.
The most serious complication associated with endovenous laser ablation is deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein). Another possible complication can occur when injections cause skin infection requiring antibiotic treatment.
Laser therapy can result in misdirected or excessively intense burns, bleeding from the choriocapillaris, damage to macular and other ocular structures, and breaks in Bruch's membrane.
Exposure to high level lasers may cause depigmentation, severe burns and possible damage to underlying organs. High-powered lasers may also cause fire hazards.
- Redness, swelling, itching and pain. Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. ...
- Acne. Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can worsen acne or cause you to temporarily develop tiny white bumps (milia) on treated skin.
- Infection. ...
- Changes in skin color. ...
- Scarring.
Compression socks may also be recommended after laser vein treatment. These socks can reduce swelling and inflammation while promoting natural healing. Wearing compression socks may also prevent new veins from developing in the future.
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding.
- Stop smoking.
- Take certain medications or adjust your current medications.
Can I walk after vein stripping?
While vein surgery is a simple laser procedure that doesn't require hospitalization or general anesthesia, strenuous activity like high-impact aerobics, heavy weight training and Pilates should be avoided for at least the first week. Most people can resume walking right away and for at least 30 minutes a day.
For most patients, only a mild redness or swelling in the treatment area, which typically resolves within 1 – 2 days. Bruising, a change in the skin's pigmentation, and blistering are more rare potential side effects after laser vein removal, but these should resolve on their own within a few weeks or less.
Conclusion: A 96% success rate is possible after high tie, stripping of the long saphenous vein with multiple avulsions of varicosities.
The most serious complication associated with endovenous laser ablation is deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein). Another possible complication can occur when injections cause skin infection requiring antibiotic treatment.
As with all medical procedures, laser treatment for varicose veins may be associated with certain complications that may include, but are not limited to: Infection at the incision site. Bleeding. Blood clots.
Background: Varicose vein surgery is generally considered to have little risk of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Many patients experience excellent results from surgical procedures to get rid of many varicose veins, but sometimes varicose veins do reoccur. Up to 60 percent of patients may have their varicose veins return after treatment (ii) and this can be frustrating.
- Permanent nerve damage.
- Damaged tissue.
- Collapsed veins.
- Prickling pain.
- Skin burns.
- Feelings of burning.
- Small blood clots.
- Deep vein thrombosis (rarely)