Spider Vein Removal Edmonton: HealthPlus Medi-Spa

Treatments: Spider Veins

Embarrassed by those Ugly Spider Veins?

Spider veins or telangiectasias, are small, thin, blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They appear most commonly on the face and legs and may look like a series of lines, tree branches, a spider – or web-like shape with a dark centre. Spider veins affect as many as 80% of all women as they age and a large percentage of men as well. They usually show up in people's 40's and 50's – although many women in their 30's also report the condition. Although spider veins are not usually a medical problem, they may make you self-conscious about your appearance or insecure about wearing shorts or skirts.

Gone in a Flash!

With the advent of powerful FDA approved medical lasers, unsightly spider veins smaller than 3-mm in diameter can quickly and painlessly be removed with little or no downtime. No injections or incisions are necessary. Our laser vein removal technology is safe for most skin types and can provide proven results without lifestyle interruptions. Results are often instantaneous and dramatic. Most laser vein removal will require anywhere from 1-3 treatments and will be discussed with you at your initial consultation. Spider vein removal over large areas may require a series of 3 to 6 laser treatments for satisfactory results. The vessels that are removed during the treatment are not required for proper function of the body. They actually function abnormally, and once removed are replaced by healthy vessels beneath the skin. Spider veins must not be confused with arteries which take blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Causes of Spider Veins

Spider veins are caused when the one-way valves in small visible veins do not work properly; allowing blood to leak downward back into the veins. Although the reasons why this occurs are not well understood, genetics, sun damage, age and stress are all believed to be contributing factors. Smoking, alcohol, obesity and other underlying conditions, such as rosacea are also thought to contribute to the condition. For women, estrogen surges during pregnancy and hormonal changes brought on by birth control pills can also play a role.

FAQ's

What Is the Procedure like and Does it Hurt?

Laser treatments for spider veins generally take less than 20 minutes. The laser pulses are delivered transdermally through your skin with a special hand-held device that sends heat into the target veins. Expect to feel a tingling sensation during the procedure along with a warming sensation. After the procedure you can return to your regular daily activities. For a few days after treatment, the treated area may appear slightly reddened and "scratched," and perhaps a bit swollen. These minor side effects generally disappear within a few days.

When Can I Expect Results?

Results are not immediate. The treated veins will turn from a bluish to a reddish hue and then gradually fade away. The process can take 2 to 6 weeks - or longer. Most people need several treatments (usually 1-3), scheduled at 3-4 week intervals to ensure optimum results. Those with excessive spider veins may require additional sessions. Once the veins disappear the treatment is permanent - but only for those particular blood vessels. You may eventually develop new spider veins that will require their own treatment.

How Do Lasers Work?

In recent years lasers have become the gold standard for spider vein removal. Lasers direct focused pulses of light onto the veins. The light's wavelength is carefully calibrated to target only the pigment in the designated blood vessel and as a result, it doesn't damage surrounding skin tissue. The heat generated by the light becomes absorbed by the vein's lining, which causes the vein to collapse and seal. Eventually, the vein disappears and fades away.

What is the Difference Between Laser Treatment vs. Sclerotherapy

Laser therapy has both advantages and disadvantages over sclerotherapy, the traditional method used for the last 20 years. The main disadvantage of laser therapy is it cannot be used to treat deeper veins. Laser therapy however offers many advantages over sclerotherapy. These advantages include:

Fewer side effects.
No injections or incisions.
Faster procedure.
Quicker recovery.
Almost zero downtime.
Less potential for harming the surrounding skin tissue.
Less painful.
Safer for use on the face.

Are Spider Veins Serious if left Untreated?

Spider veins have no function and removing them does no harm. They rarely pose a serious medical condition (unlike varicose veins, in which blood is trapped due to valve problems in the veins, often leading to intense discomfort and occasionally rupture), but they may indicate a sluggish circulatory system. A primary concern however is their unsightly and ugly appearance; making us look much older than we really are.

Am I A Good Candidate?

Laser treatments for spider veins are safe for almost everyone. However, if you have any of the following conditions, you will not be a candidate for treatment by Health Plus:

Diabetic
Pregnant
Receiving anti-coagulant therapy
Crippling osteoarthritis
Severe bronchial asthma
Advanced lupus or lupus type diseases
Blood clots

Be sure to provide a full health history at your consultation.

Do's & Don'ts? For Your Treatment

Remove all make-up & moisturizers from the treatment site.
Minimize tanning and self-tanning creams for 1-2 weeks before treatment.
Shave the areas to be treated the day before treatment.
Avoid flying for 48 hours after treatment.
Many people find it helpful to take 2-3 Advil, (200mg. tablets), 2 hours before coming in for treatment.
When treating facial telangiectasia near the mouth, rolled-up gauze can be placed between the lips and teeth to protect the teeth from discomfort.
Tattooed areas will not be treated.
Apply ice or chilled gel-packs prior to treatment to increase comfort and provide increased epidermal protection.
Avoid aspirin or other blood thinning drugs (vitamin E, ginkgo, ibuprofen, or arthritis medication) for two days before and after treatment.
Avoid alcohol and do not smoke for two days before and after treatment.
Do not apply lotions to legs before appointment.
Eat a light meal/snack one hour before treatment.
Bring loose fitting shorts/pants to wear after treatment.
If you develop a fever or other illness before your appointment you must reschedule.

Post-Treatment Instructions

Avoid tanning for two weeks after treatment.
Your skin may appear red or dry following treatment and may require moisturizer.
Special creams formulated to assist in the treatment of spider veins may prove beneficial. Contact staff for more details.
Blistering or scaling after treatment is very rare, but if this occurs call us immediately – generally the condition will resolve itself in a few days with Polysporin applied several times a day.

Pricing Buy 3 Get 1 FREE!

Area (typical condition)*	1 treatment	4 treatments
15 minutes (legs)	$349	$549
30 minutes (legs)	$949	$1349

* Additional costs may be incurred if the spider veins are extensive. Pricing for facial treatments are based on condition and area requiring treatment. Contact us to schedule a free consultation so that we may provide you with an exact price.