Laser for Veins Sherman Oaks
Laser for veins is an effective alternative to surgical vein stripping. Laser for veins is a vein surgery that uses heat from a laser to reduce varicose veins. The laser closes the vein, which shrinks it and makes scar tissue form within the vessel, sealing off the vein.
It requires zero downtime and allows the patient to return to normal activity in 24 hours, in most cases. The procedure causes no pain, with patients walking around 30 to 60 minutes post-surgery.
What is Laser for Veins?
Laser for veins is an outpatient procedure using a laser that removes varicose veins. It is an effective alternative to surgical vein stripping and works well with varicose veins on thighs, calves, and face.
A small incision is made where a catheter will be inserted directly into the varicose vein. The catheter is inserted into the varicose vein, and a laser fiber is fed into the catheter. As the catheter is slowly pulled out, the laser heats the vein, closing and shrinking it. Typically, no stitches are required, and a simple bandage is applied to the incision site.
Laser for Veins Benefits
- Removes diseased veins: The laser leaves the treated area free of bulging and unsightly varicose veins.
- Removes spider veins: Removes spider veins from the face and other sensitive areas.
- Reduce vein pain: Alleviates tenderness, swelling, and throbbing in the legs due to the vein.
- Helps with pain and aches: Relieves aches or pains in the legs after heavy activity, and a feeling of tired or heavy legs.
Laser for Veins Cost & Pricing Structure
The price of a laser for veins can vary greatly depending on the number of veins to be treated, and the number of sessions required to fully remove them. On average, it can range from $300 to $600 per session. Multiple sessions may be required to fully eradicate the varicose veins. For spider vein removal, the average price is $350 per session.
- US National Average: $443.00 per leg
- Competitive Price: Please call for current pricing and specials
- Additional Costs: Compression stockings can be purchased on Amazon or local stores.
- Insurance: Typically, insurance doesn’t cover laser for veins, except in severe medical cases, such as severe pain or swelling due to the veins.
Our team has years of experience in providing Laser for Veins Treatments. Get in touch today!
How Laser for Veins Works
Laser for veins surgery uses the heat from a laser to reduce varicose veins. The laser closes and shrinks the vein, which makes scar tissue within the blood vessel. The scar tissue seals off the vein, forcing the body to reroute the blood to another vein.The treated vein then breaks apart, and the nearby tissue absorbs the vein remnants.
Before & Preparation
Prior to the surgery, you’ll need to meet with your provider and ask any questions that you may have about the surgery, and the recovery period following. You will fill out your health history, and diagnostic and blood tests will be performed.
You should discontinue taking any blood-thinning medications like aspirin and ibuprofen, and if you’re on blood-thinning prescriptions, you’ll need to confirm with your physician that you may discontinue them until you’ve completed recovery. You’ll be asked not to have any food or drink for 8 hours prior. You may be given a sedative, so you will need to arrange to have transportation home.
During the Procedure
The procedure is generally done in your provider’s office, and typically it takes less than an hour. Be sure to bring loose-fitting clothing to wear home after the procedure. You will be asked to disrobe and dress in a medical gown. You will need to get onto the medical table, then you’ll be provided with eye protection goggles so your eyes aren’t damaged by the laser.
The area where the incision will be made to place the catheter will be numbed. A numbing agent will be applied along the vein’s length. In addition, an ultrasound will be utilized both before and during the treatment to monitor the vein during the ablation. The catheter is placed into the vein through a tiny incision. After that, the laser fiber is inserted into the catheter. The laser warms the vein while the catheter is gently withdrawn, causing it to shut and shrink. The laser fiber is withdrawn, and the wound is covered with a bandage. There are no sutures required.
Aftercare & Recovery
You’ll be required to walk immediately following surgery. The duration will be between 30 and 60 minutes, and this is done in close proximity to the healthcare provider’s office in case you need medical assistance. However, laser for veins surgery is typically safe and effective, with few if any side effects. You may incur some bruising, but this will go away in about 10-14 days.
Once home, apply an ice pack 15 minutes at a time to reduce swelling in the area. You should check the incision sites daily, although some pink is normal to see. Keep the incision site out of water for at least 48 hours. Simply sponge bath until it is safe to immerse the area in water. You may have been fitted with a compression stocking. If you were or ordered to wear one by your healthcare provider, do not attempt to remove it to bathe. Sponge baths will only be sufficient until your follow-up visit.The compression stockings are to prevent leg swelling, blood clotting, and blood pooling in the area. It is imperative you follow your providers’ instructions on the compression stocking.
Do not sit down or lie down for long periods of time. When you are sitting or lying down, keep your leg raised. You should walk at least three times daily, for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. This should be your routine for at least
the first two weeks. You can return to normal activities, so long as the activity doesn’t include running, jumping, or lifting. These aren’t safe during the first two weeks of recovery. If you see any sign of infection, immediately notify your healthcare provider. Signs of infection are redness or warmth around the surgical incision or fluid leaking from the incision site.
Treatment Areas
Theoretically, laser for veins surgery isn’t limited to one area of the body. Spider veins and varicose veins typically occur in the same areas of the body, so laser varicose vein surgery is naturally limited to those areas of the body.
- Spider veins, the smaller, red-colored veins, usually occur on the legs or the face.
- Varicose veins are the larger, more noticeable veins. They usually will bulge out from the skin and can become very noticeable. They often occur on the thighs, backs, and fronts of the calves, and the inside of the legs near the ankles and feet.
- In addition, pregnant women may experience varicose veins at the inner thigh, the lower pelvic area, and the buttocks, in addition to the legs, ankles, and feet.
Get the results you’ve always wanted from the nation’s leading physician for Cosmetic Injectables!
Am I a Good Candidate for Laser for Veins?
If you are dealing with mainly aesthetic concerns, like small spider veins, reticular veins, or varicose veins which aren’t twisting around and bulging, laser for veins surgery may be a good option for you. If you are planning to have laser vein surgery, avoid sun exposure, as melanin can disrupt treatment. Also, if you are tattooed over the area you wish to have lasered, you will not be able to have the tattooed area treated.
If you are in generally overall good health and don’t have blood clots, you should be a good candidate, providing you meet the above qualifications as well. However, if you are pregnant, have skin cancer, are on blood thinners, on Accutane, on photosensitizing drugs, have vitiligo, have herpes, or have diabetes, you probably won’t qualify for laser for veins surgery.
Similar & Related Procedures
- Ligation: Ligation is a vein tie-off procedure involving surgically tying off the greater saphenous vein in the leg.
- Vein Stripping: Another form of vein removal, stripping removes the greater saphenous vein in the leg via incisions in the tissue.
LASER FOR VEINS SURGERY vs. VEIN LIGATION
Laser For Veins Surgery
General Anesthesia Used:
Risk of Infection:
Quick Recovery:
Vein Ligation
General Anesthesia Used:
Risk of Infection:
Quick Recovery:
Side Effects & Risks
Side effects of vein ligation:
- There is a risk associated with general anesthesia.
- Risk of infection.
- Risk of bleeding, blood clots, and scarring.
Our team has years of experience in providing Laser for Veins Treatments. Get in touch today!
Laser for Veins FAQs
How much does laser vein removal cost?
The cost may vary depending on the amount of areas that needs to be treated and the number of visits based on your skin’s sensitivity and baseline color. The rate is usually done either per area or by time spent in the room. It usually costs about $250-$400 per 15 minutes. Undereye laser vein removal can be about $400-$800 per visit. Especially if contact eye protection is needed.
Does laser vein removal really work?
The success rate for laser vein removal is very high. However, you may need about three treatments for the final result. If visible veins are something that bother you, then laser vein removal is definitely worth it as it is safe, effective, and can prevent the possibility of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis.
How painful is laser vein removal?
Laser vein treatment can be uncomfortable, but not too painful as it feels like a rubber band snap against the skin. Most patients tell us it’s a 2 out of 10 level pain. Topical numbing and cryotherapy (Zimmer machine) is available to help make it an even more comfortable experience.
How long does laser vein treatment take to heal?
The swelling, bruising, and redness takes 1-2 weeks to dissipate. However, it usually takes more time for the vein to collapse and for the body to absorb it. The process of actual vein getting broken down, absorbed, and removed by the body can take 6-10 weeks.
What is the downtime for laser vein removal?
Unless you bruise (which is unlikely with the Cutera Exel V laser), there’s no downtime after vascular laser treatment. However, if you experience bruising, it usually resolves within 1-2 weeks. While pressure stockings are recommended for 2-3 weeks to reduce recurrence, you can resume your normal activities right after the treatment.
Which is better, laser or sclerotherapy?
They are both good modalities with small differences. Sclerotherapy is a little more invasive since it requires multiple injections. Laser may be more limiting for very superficial pink vessels (capillaries) in darker skin patients, as it can irritate the pigment cells to release more pigment (hyperpigmentation can occur). Sclerotherapy is more limiting when treating a large web- like spread of smaller size veins (capillaries), as it’s difficult to get inside these small vessels with the needle.
Is laser treatment for varicose veins covered by insurance?
This depends on your insurance policy, the severity of your varicose veins (if it imposes a risk for DVTs), and the insurance contracting of the office you’ll go to. But usually for cosmetic purposes, insurance doesn’t cover laser vein treatments.
How many laser treatments are needed for veins?
On average, three treatments are needed. However, we have seen results even with just one round. Therefore, you should schedule a consultation before the treatment, so you can discuss this with the chosen experienced practitioner.
Which is the most effective treatment for varicose veins?
The most effective treatment for varicose veins is surgical removal of the vein. However, this option is usually more invasive, has more downtime, and is generally more costly. Lasers (Cutera Exel V & V Beam being the strongest), radiofrequency, and sclerotherapy injections such as Asclera are less invasive and hence the first step for most people if the varicose veins are small. For large varicose veins, there’s usually valve abnormalities and surgery will be the only effective option.
Do varicose veins come back after laser treatment?
With time, the body can continue to grow veins as it did in the first place. Treatment usually does not increase vein growth. However, if a varicose vein is large, then immediately or soon after treatment the blood can get redirected into another existing superficial vein and make it more noticeable. In that scenario, the other vein may also need to be treated.
What are the side effects of laser treatment for varicose veins and vein ablation?
Possible side effects are bruising, mild swelling, and tenderness. A gray shadowing (ghosting) is common after the vein is successfully removed. More serious but rare side effects include skin burn, discoloration, and DVT blood clots. Also bear in mind that ablating larger varicose veins can cause other veins to pop out more as they are more likely to be caused by actual vein valve issues (as opposed to normal healthy veins that are close to the surface).
What can you not do after a vascular laser?
After vein laser treatment we advise you to stay away from the sun, avoid sauna, jacuzzi, staying sedentary, strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, prolonged sitting or standing, and crossing your legs in a seated position for a week. It’s a great idea to wear pressure stockings to aid in the collapse of the veins and reduce risk of the vein passageways from re-opening. You should also avoid flying for 2 weeks after the treatment.
Is it better to remove varicose veins or leave them?
If you have varicose veins you have a higher risk for DVT (deep vein thrombosis) blood clots, so it’s better to remove them.
Why do my veins look worse after laser treatment?
It is normal and expected for veins to look darker and redder after laser treatment, it takes weeks to months for your body to absorb the vessels walls after the ablation. Also, bruising can take a few days or weeks to heal.
Get the results you’ve always wanted from the nation’s leading physician for Cosmetic Injectables!