Vanity Thy Name is Profile Laser Treatments
Nov 03 '05
The Bottom Line For many people these veins appear as we get older. Laser is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to do away with them.
One day this summer I was looking in the mirror. I saw little red lines on the side of my face. Looking closer I saw a couple on the other side as well. I gasped and asked my husband what they were. He didn’t know nor did he care but I did. I knew they were what are called spider veins or broken capillaries. They had to go and they did. I called my cosmetic surgeon’s office. I assumed they would go via some type of laser treatment and was told that was what the medical aesthetician does. At first I was uneasy about a person who isn’t a doctor working on my face but since I have confidence in my doctor’s practice I made an appointment with Robin. I was told that the laser could not be used in the same areas in which I was having my Restylane treatments. As it turned out her closest appointment had me waiting for 1/2 an hour after my Botox and Restylane treatments. This turned out to be good for two reasons. I had the opportunity to ice my face. In addition since I was not supposed to lie down after the Botox I at least had ˝ an hour or so before Robin tilted the chair back.
Information:
There is a new laser called Profile. The Profile vascular laser uses infrared energy. It is getting accolades apparently because it is a more precise way to treat the skin. It enables the medical person to match your skin's condition and the result you want. At least that is the claim made.
Profile laser works on Rosacea, Telangiactasia (superficial blood vessels), facial veins, redness and broken capillaries. All skin areas can be treated. In fact I noticed one on my thigh and a few on my ankle and intend to have those removed. These are different than varicose veins.
Whatever you want removed will be heated by the laser energy. Some will disappear totally; some will be improved but not totally gone. It depends on what the problem is and your skin type.
Lasers work by emitting a light that passes through the skin and is absorbed. The heat from the laser causes the vein to break up and disappear.
Since laser vein treatment works by causing the vein to break up and dissolve, it could take several weeks for all this to happen. The most common side effect is bruising.
My experience:
Robin spoke with me at length. In fact I spent more time talking with her and filling out paperwork for her than I did for the doctor who injected me with Botox and Restylane. She told me that my broken capillaries were not bad and should be able to be “fixed” with one treatment. Depending on the condition of your skin it may be possible that you will have to go back for several treatments. Robin told me that if I needed another treatment it had to be done within four weeks before the natural vein repair process begins.
She went over the cost with me. A one hour treatment costs $300. If I needed a second treatment it would be $250 and a third would be $200. She told me that the process wouldn’t be painful but it could be uncomfortable. Some people describe laser vein treatment as feeling like the snap of a rubber band against the skin. I commented on the fact that I didn’t think I had many veins so why would I pay the same amount if I didn’t need an hour worth of treatment. She told me that she would find veins that didn’t know could be found and would undoubtedly spend an hour on my face which is exactly what happened.
Robin told me that the most common injury is from people looking at the laser beam. She put shields on me that covered my eyes totally. Toward the end even with my eyes closed I started to see bright lights but that could have been my imagination.
Robin continued to apply a cold gel that was a topical anesthetic cream as she treated me. There were some areas in which I felt nothing. There were some areas that I felt as if I was being scraped; there were some areas that felt like pin pricks i.e. the rubber band feeling perhaps and there were some areas that were a bit more than just unconformable. I can’t say though that at any time I was in what I would call pain. We talked the entire time which made the hour fly by.
When it was over she told me that I got 287 zaps of laser (almost $1.00 a beam). I couldn’t believe it. She held a mirror up to my face. The veins were gone.
Robin emphasized repeatedly that I should use a good sunscreen and stay out of the sun which I do, especially after the treatment. Although the general literature says that I could resume normal activities immediately Robin and her paperwork was very clear about my not doing aerobics for several days. She had no problem with my lifting weights or walking on the treadmill. She was also adamant that I not drink alcohol or take aspirin within 24 hours. She really read me the riot act that if I decided to drink that glass of wine at dinner I might see a vein appear. She may have been exaggerating but I got her point.
Although I was never bruised there were a few spots that were red and raised. A bit of makeup covered it up. The marks lasted about three days and never kept me from going out although I perhaps wouldn’t schedule anything really important the night of your treatment or the next day.
This treatment should last for several years but if a touch up is needed at some point I will be touched up.
I hope this helps. Feel free to leave me a question, comment or e-mail me privately. Thanks for reading. Jo
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