Spider veins and varicose veins aren’t just unsightly — they can cause discomfort, too. What’s more, these visible veins also indicate a problem with your circulation — a problem that can often be corrected with laser vein treatment.
This minimally invasive procedure uses highly focused heat energy to collapse the damaged vein so your body can absorb it over the following weeks — a time-tested approach that’s both effective and safe. Still, while laser vein treatment offers many benefits, if you’ve never had this procedure, it’s not uncommon to feel a little nervous about what to expect.
At Laser & Varicose Vein Treatment Center, Inam Haq, MD, FACS, and Sushilkumar Samant, MD, FACS, treat problematic veins with laser vein treatments using state-of-the-art technology. In this post, our team offers a quick overview of what to expect before, during, and after treatment so you can feel more relaxed and confident.
Prior to your treatment date, you need to take a few simple steps to prepare. That includes avoiding sun exposure and tanning beds to avoid irritating your skin at the treatment site.
At your initial consultation, we ask you to list any medications or nutritional supplements you’re using. Because some supplements and medications, such as aspirin, can increase bleeding, we might advise you to change your dosing in the week leading up to your treatment.
It’s also a good idea to use a mild soap, avoid exfoliating the area, and stay hydrated in the week or so prior to treatment. On the day of your appointment, don’t apply lotions or creams to the area.
Just before your treatment, we carefully cleanse your skin and inject the area with a local anesthetic to numb your skin. Once the area is anesthetized, we make a tiny incision and use ultrasound imaging to guide placement of a very thin laser fiber into your affected vein.
We use the laser fiber to administer energy directly to the inner vein wall, heating the tissue so the vein naturally closes. You might feel very mild stinging or a sensation of warmth in the area as the laser energy takes effect, but the anesthetic keeps you comfortable.
We gently advance the laser fiber until the entire vein is treated. After removing the fiber, we place a bandage over the incision and wrap the area with a compression bandage to limit bruising and speed healing. There are no sutures and no downtime afterward.
Post-treatment care is simple, but it’s important to follow all of our instructions to support quick, complete healing. You should begin walking right after your treatment to promote circulation that aids in healing. Walking also reduces temporary redness and swelling that can occur afterward.
We may direct you to wear compression garments during healing. You should avoid hot baths, hot tubs, sun exposure, and strenuous activities like heavy lifting for a short period to give the area plenty of time to heal and recover. In most cases, you can resume other normal activities right after your treatment session.
In the days following treatment, the treated vein might look darker and more noticeable at first. This is a normal part of healing. Over the following days and weeks, the vein fades, leaving clearer skin behind.
Without treatment, varicose veins and spider veins can cause discomfort, swelling, and other symptoms that can take a toll on your comfort and your quality of life. Fortunately laser vein treatment can help.
To find out more, request an appointment online or over the phone at our locations in Staten Island’s Midland Beach or Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York, today.
