Can all skin types with excess blood vessels be treated with laser therapy?
Only people with fair skin can be treated for excess blood vessels.
Which types of blood vessels can be treated with laser therapy?
All types of small blood vessels. Both reddish vessels, that are common on the face and blueish vessels, that are common on the legs can be treated. Diffuse redness as are commonly seen on the face and incorrectly associated with excess alcohol consumption, can also be treated by targeting invisible microscopic blood vessels.
How successful is the treatment?
Most patients will need between 1 and 3 treatment sessions, depending on the number of blood vessels and the specific disorder that is treated. A 50-90% reduction in blood vessels can be expected.
Can any part of the body be treated?
Yes.
What happens during a treatment session?
The eyes are covered with goggles and a thin layer of gel is applied to the treatment area. The laser is placed on your skin and you will be aware of a series of bright flashes as the laser is moved over the treatment area.
Is the treatment painful?
The treatment can be quite painful, but most people can tolerate the treatment without taking an analgesic. Vessels on the legs and nose are not so uncomfortable to treat, but vessels on the cheeks tend to be uncomfortable without pain relief. We suggest you take an analgesic prior to having the cheeks treated.
What happens after the treatment session?
Most patients experience an almost immediate swelling and redness of the area after the treatment. This reaction confirms that the blood vessels were successfully targeted by the laser. Over the next day or two the area might become more swollen after which the swelling gradually subsides. Any of the treated areas can be easily camouflaged with base while the effects of the laser fades.
Will the blood vessels come back?
If the underlying cause of the problem persist, like continual excessive sun exposure, then the blood vessels can reappear over time. Every patient is therefore given a post treatment plan to minimize the chance of the blood vessels returning.
What does the laser vessel removal treatment cost?
It depends on the size of the area that needs treatment.
Hallo dr Louw
Ek het aartjies en sonvlekkies op my gesig en nek. Ek wil graag weet of u dit met dieselfde tipe laser behandel en of ek twee afsprake sal moet maak?
Baie dankie
Beste Esbe. Dit kan gewoonlik in dieselfde sessie gedoen word. Die aartjies en pigmentasie areas benodig verskillende pulslengtes van lig vir behandeling. Jy mag egter steeds meer as 1 afspraak benodig om die effek te maksimaliseer.
Hallo dr Louw,
Ek het rooi aartjies en sonvlekkies op my gesig en nek. Ek wil net weet of u dit met dieselfde tipe laser behandel of moet ek eers kom vir aartjies en dan vir vlekkies?
Baie dankie
Hi! I have what I call a small cluster of red veins under the eye (just below the sensitive area) – on the start of the cheek area. Its rather small, but I would love to have it removed. Could you confirm if this is possible, and if so how much it would cost? Would it take just 1 consult?
Thank you
Hi there,
1. I have a vessel on my cheek bone that bursted for years now. Would laser remove this? Can it be done on consultation? What would the cost be? Would my medical aid – Medihelp cover this?
Please help with answering my concerns as I would like to make an appointment next month.
2. I have psoriases and have managed to get rid of 90% of it but now im left with white spots wherever it has healed. What can I do to get my skin in an even colour again. Im fair in colour
Kind Regards
Melissa
Dear Melissa. Regarding the vessel. Laser should help and it can be done at consultation. Medical aid will not pay for it. Regarding the post psoriasis marks. They almost always fade back to normal skin colour over months.
Hi Dr . I noticed you comment that your Lazer cannot remover blue veins from under the eyes . I am fair and live in the Eastern Cape . I have an unsightly blue vein under my right eye . Where can I go to get this removed . I note that there is a surgical procedure where they can cut out the vein . Who is the best to do this in SA ? Or is there a new lazer on the market ? Thank you
Dear Kelly. I am not aware of anyone doing this procedure.
Beste Dr Louw
Ek wil graag weet of u self die laser behandelings doen en of tegnikuste dit doen?
Ek wil ook weet of u blou-pers aartjies onder die oë kan behandel en hoeveel dit sal kos.
Baie Dankie!
Beste Paula. Ek doen alles self. Die blou-pers aartjies onder die oë is gewoonlik nie behandelbaar nie, maar dit hang af. Kom wys my as jy kan.
Dear Dr. Louw
Do you remove blue veins below the eye? (in the sensitive under eye area)
http://www.drpuneetgupta.co.uk/cms-assets/images/Skin%20Before%20and%20After/548419.veins-under-eyes-before-2.jpg
Dear Mohamed. No, not that size of vessel.
Hi Dr Louw,
I’m not sure if I have a burst blood vessel on my nose, but it is something that appeared recently. If I rub my finger over the spot it disappears, when i remove my finger the spot is red. Would I need to come in for a consultation first, or would you be able to tell me if you think it is a burst vessel. It is small, but I am assuming that it would cost around R700 to remove?
Thanks,
Janine
Dear Janine. It is most likely a little spider angioma. The cost depends on the method of removal, but it will not be more than R700.
Hi Dr Louw
I have these burst blood vessels on my neck and small ones on my face, a dermatologist a few years back said it was a form of Telangiectasia, i had a few quarterized back then (lasers therapy did not exist) but many have returned. If i come in, your consultation will determine the extend of laser therapy required but can one session be done right then and there or must i schedule come back again?
Regards
Jon
Dear Jon. The treatment can be done on the day of consultation.
Hi,
My doctor says i have a port wine stain. Does your lazer therapy treat this? its on the one side of my neck about 7cm by 8cm, bottom of my chin and a small patch on the cheek. What would it more or less cost to treat?
Dear Duane. Yes, I do treat port-wine stains, depending on the size. Please email me some photos of the areas. Use the email address in the “Contact Details” box on the right of the screen.
Dear Dr. Louw
Please give me some idea of the cost of laser (thread vein removal) on my legs (outside of thighs). The area is probably about 10cm x 2cm on each leg. Some doctors have told me it’s useless to have it done as the veins will just come back over time. I’m desperate as I’d love to be able to stick on a pair of shorts or a skirt next summer instead of sweltering in the heat in jeans or 3/4 longs!
Dear Natasha. It costs around R700-R900 per session. You would probably need 1-3 sessions. It is true that new vessels might appear over time. Remember, the treatment will destroy the vessels that are there, but it does not remove your tendency to develop these vessels. The approach to the problem is therefore primarily to try and control the vessels to such an extent that they do not bother you. If the sclerotherapy works well for you, then we can repeat the procedure every few years, if required.
I have a small burst blood vessel just under my cheek bone. Is this treatable and for what cost.
Dear Pippa. It is treatable. Most likely with laser therapy. Without seeing it I can obviously not give you an exact cost, but somewhere in the region of R700 or so.
What is the cost of the laser vessel removal?
Thanks
Lynn
Dear Lynn. It depends on the size of the area that you want to treat and the vessel calibre. For the nose and cheeks the cost will on average be between R900 and R1600 per session. Patients require between 1 and 3 session. The average patient can expect an improvement of between 50% and 90%.