Introduction
With increasing age, the majority of women and large numbers of men experience unsightly varicose and spider veins in their legs. These vascular lesions may appear for many reasons including increasing age, heredity, hormone changes, and obesity. In the past, treatments included injection or surgery. Now there is a new treatment option, the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Laser. This advanced non-invasive vein treatment solution is safe, effective, and requires no downtime following the quick treatment session.
The IPL Laser treatment system combines broad band light with pulsed laser light to selectively target and destroy blood vessels of varying sizes while sparing surrounding tissue. The treated veins break down and are eventually absorbed by the body. IPL Laser treatment is appropriate for spider veins and small varicose veins. Other techniques may be necessary for larger or persistent veins.
Treatment
IPL Laser treatment is a short in-office procedure. Treatments typically last from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the extent of the condition. There is no down time following a session, and many people schedule a visit over their lunch hour.
You may be asked to wear goggles to protect your eyes during the treatment. First, a cool gel is applied to the skin. The application wand is placed on the skin, and light is delivered to the treatment area. No anesthesia is required. You may experience temporary mild to moderate discomfort during the treatment. People describe the sensation as a quick rubber band snap or a quick pinprick.
You may notice results immediately. You may require repeated treatments to achieve the affect that you desire. Unlike surgical procedures, there is no compression garment to wear or downtime. You can return to your regular activities immediately.
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This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Author
Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD,
Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. The library
commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on 4-27-2010.