Vein Treatment
If you're like most people, you're no stranger to unsightly veins on your body or your face. If they are impacting the way you feel about your appearance, you may be relieved to discover that you have some viable options for vein treatment in Worcester. We provide different treatments for each of these areas: laser vein treatment for the face and sclerotherapy for the legs.
Discuss your options for vein treatment with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Seth Kates. Most insurances will cover the medical evaluation for treatment of facial veins or spider veins on the legs. If you do not have insurance you can request a free cosmetic consultation online or call us at 508-754-3823 in Worcester or 978-256-4151 in Chelmsford.
Laser Vein Treatment for the Face
In addition to treating facial veins, our laser can also eliminate a variety of other problems including:
- Broken capillaries
- Rosacea
- Pigmentation variances
- Spider veins
- Cherry spots on the body
- Dermatosa papulosa nigricans
The Procedure
Laser light is absorbed by pigmented areas where it is converted into heat, causing a breakup in the pigment. In broken capillaries and spider veins, the laser energy is absorbed by the pigment in the blood and vaporizes the unwanted vein.
Anesthesia is generally not required. A full session takes approximately 20 minutes. A single lesion takes only a few minutes.
A series of 1 or 2 treatments, spaced about 6 weeks apart, is our standard recommendation; however, a single session can cause a tremendous amount of improvement and most patients are happy enough with their results that they do not choose to pursue subsequent treatment sessions.
After Treatment
Immediately following the procedure, you may experience some redness, swelling or slight darkening of pigmented areas. The redness and swelling usually dissipate within 1 to 3 days; however, hyperpigmented areas may persist and peel slightly for up to a week. Bruising does not occur with our laser. Makeup can be applied to the treated area immediately, if necessary.
It is extremely important to use sun protective measures both before and after the treatment to optimize the results and to reduce potential side effects. Skin care after the procedure generally consists of applying a mild moisturizer to the area for several days.
Sclerotherapy for the Legs
Sclerotherapy is a popular method for reducing the appearance of superficial telangiectasias (spider veins) on the legs of both women and men. The sclerosing agents that we use are either Hypertonic Saline or the brand new Asclera® (polidocanol).
Before & After Photos - Sclerotherapy
Starburst veins of the thigh before sclerotherapy (left) and one month after one session of Sclerotherapy (right). Results will continue to improve.
The Procedure
During the procedure, the sclerosing agent is injected into the visible veins using a small needle. The injected medication irritates the lining of the veins. In response, the veins collapse and are reabsorbed, so that they are no longer visible.
You may need several treatment sessions depending on the extent of the spider veins. Welts and bruising will fade over the course of 3 days. Results appear over 3 weeks; however, it can take a few months for optimal results further down on the legs.
After Treatment
Generally there is no discomfort after the procedure. Abstaining from vigorous physical activity for 3 days is recommended. Depending on the areas treated, an Ace wrap or compression stockings may be used temporarily.
