Laser therapy

Laser blood vessel treatment

Description of treatment
Contraindications
Before the procedure
After the procedure

Description of treatment

Laser blood vessel treatment is a treatment which effectively removes any vascular skin changes manifesting themselves on skin surface as clear, permanenty dillated blood vessels which are visible thrrough the epiderm (telangiectasia). The blood vessel treatment carries minimal risk and the discomfort during the procedure is virtually non-perceptible. There are no serious complications and it doesn't require a recovery period.

The laser blood vessel treatment consists in exposing the dillated blood vessel to the laser beam which heats the blood in the vessel rapidly, thus causing a constriction and permanent closing of the vessel. After some time the vessel is removed from the body on its own.

The treatment can be applied at any time of the year. The procedure lasts about 20 minutes on average, however the exact duration depends on the area undergoing the treatment.

The number of procedures necessary to achieve the desired effect depends on the amount, the diameter and the color of the vessels as well as their location. ntervals between the procedures depend on the laser used and the number of applied procedures. It can be 2 weeks, although most of the time it's 4-6 weeks after the first procedure and 8-10 weeks after the subsequent ones.

Vascular changes which qualify for the laset treatment:

skin telangiectasia,
spider veins,
cherry angioma,
leg venectasia,
PWS - post wine stains,
poikiloderma of Civatte (erythromelanosis colli),
lip venous lakes;

Thanks to the laser blood vessel treatments the patient may go back to their normal routine immediately after the treatment. There is no risk of complications or infection.

* To achieve the best effects, it is recommended to undergo a series of procedures. Subsequent procedures shall be performed in a series of several procedures depending on the indications and obtained results, keeping the procedures at least 2-6 weeks apart.

* During the first treatment, the laser parameters are individually optimized to obtain the best possible effects.

* Sensations during the treatment are dependent on the individual patient's pain threshold and skin sensitivity. The procedures may be conducted with no anasthesia, however some patients may require local anasthesia. Currently almost all lasers are equipped with cooling endings, which eliminate the need of the use of pain medication.

Contraindications:

pregnancy and lactation
active skin diseases in the area to be undergoing the treatment
skin wounds and cuts
taking photosensitizing medication (some antibiotics, anti-depressants, retinoids)
taking photosensitizing herbs (St. John's wort, calendula, slimming teas)
active acne

Before the procedure

Indications for the patient before the procedure:

No tanning (sun or tanning salon) for 2-4 weeks before the procedure
No self tanners for 2 weeks before the procedure
Don't apply treatments irritating or flaking the skin (peeling), treatments with vitamin A derivatives, for 3-4 weeks before the procedure
In the case of the following medication: anticoagulants, steroids, photosensitizing, you should stop taking them (if possible) 5 days before the procedure
In the case of remedies containing β-Carotene (including oral) you should stop taking/using them 2-3 weeks before the procedure,
In the case of remedies containing photosensitizing herbs, you should stop taking them 2-3 weeks before the procedure
In the case of creams containing retinol, isotretinoin, fruit acids etc., you should stop using them 4 weeks before the procedure
Don't drink alcohol on the day of the treatment

After the procedure:

Keep the area that has undergone the treatment clean
Protect from accidental damage by clothes, if necessary wear protecting dressing
If the dry skin starts to flake, let it regenerate naturally, don't scratch, rub, peel or apply other flaking treatments
No tanning 4 weeks after the treatment (both naturally as well as in a tanning salon)
Protect the skink from the sun for 1 month after the treatment by applying sunscreen with SPF 50+
Avoid factors causing widening of blood vessels for 4-5 days (physical exercise, sauna, hot baths)
Avoid smoking tabacco and drinking alcohol excessively
Avoid swimming in swimming pools
Apply skin moisturizing medications (2-3 times a day)
Don't apply remedies which may cause irritation: lightening cream, peeling treatments, toners, products containing glycolic acid or retinoids, soaps or alcohol-based remedies
In the case of damaged skin avoid applying make-up on the area undergoing treatment for about 4-5 days after the treatment, otherwise make-up can be applied the day after the treatment
In the unlikely case that scabs should appear on the skin, it may be necessary to apply antibioric ointment, or in the case of strong itchiness, delicate steroid ointments; those medications shall be prescribed by a doctor