Leg Veins

As we age, valves in our leg veins become less efficient, so less blood is pumped back from the legs. This means blood vessels in our legs become larger, darker and more visible. In severe cases, varicose veins may form, and may require surgical treatment (vein stripping). Other vessels can be treated by injection (sclerotherapy). Smaller vessels (leg telangiectasias) are often treated by laser, such as the Nd:YAG 1064 laser.

Leg vein treatment uses a precisely calculated pulse of laser energy, exactly directed to the vessel being treated. This causes the blood inside the vessel to heat up; causing the wall of the vessel to collapse. The vessel is reabsorbed naturally by your white blood cells. The skin surrounding the vessel is not affected by the treatment.

This depends on the size of your leg vessels, and also on your medical history. Your doctor can advise if your vessels are too large for treatment or if you have one of the few pre-existing medical conditions that may make you unsuitable for this type of
treatment.

Our laser leg vein treatment uses the latest in cooling techniques – SoftCool™ – to minimise discomfort and protect the surrounding skin. Most people find that treatment of smaller vessels is practically pain-free. Even treatment of larger vessels is only mildly uncomfortable. The results are worth it.

Avoid sun exposure in the four weeks up to treatment; and avoid smoking in the four hours before the treatment starts (smoking causes the vessels to
constrict, so there is less of the target available to treat). After treatment, you should avoid sun exposure for 30 days, even if there is no sign of inflammation in the treated area. Use sun protection (minimum SPF 30) if sun exposure cannot be avoided.

Smaller vessels can disappear immediately after treatment, larger ones fade away more gradually over the next few weeks. Normally patients experience a little redness and/or swelling (lasting up to 2 days) in the treated area. Rarely, blood may collect in the treated vessel. In this case your doctor will most likely request that you call back two days after your treatment.

This depends on number of vessels to be treated. A single treatment is typical for most individual vessels, though some larger ones may need a second treatment. Your doctor will be able to make a more accurate assessment following examination.