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The Vein Institute of Toronto Technique
Description of Facial Veins:
Telangiectasias or spider veins are dilated superficial veins. Facial spider veins generally appear on the nose, chin or cheek area and often occur in rosacea. These veins are most commonly red, and usually appear in three basic shapes: linear, branch-like or spider-shaped, with a dark center point.
Branch-Like
Branch-Like
Linear
Linear
Spider-Shaped
Spider-Shaped
Exemples of Facial Veins:
Symptoms:
Burning or itching are the most common symptoms of spider veins.
Incidence and Causes:
Nearly 70% of all women and 30% of men will develop some type of venous disorder. No one knows exactly the cause of spider veins, but several factors including heredity are believed to cause a person to be more likely to develop them. Oral contraceptives, hormone changes and therapy, sun exposure and the natural aging process also may contribute to their development. Spider veins may also be related to rosacea, and other trauma to the skin or may be heredity.

Contributing factors include:

  • Heredity
  • Pregnancy
  • Hormonal changes
  • Advancing age
  • Trauma
  • Sun-exposure
Procedures:
Pre-Procedure Protocol:
At The Vein Institute of Toronto all patients will first undergo a complimentary physician consultation involving a focussed venous history, detailed venous physical. We have developed a unique vein mapping technique to completely map out your spider veins and ensure a complete treatment plan. The initial consultation will allow us to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your schedule and goals.
Skin pigmentation can impact the effectiveness of any surface laser treatment, therefore the patient should have no sun exposure for four weeks prior to treatment to guard against blistering and scarring.
Procedure Protocol:
We utilize the Revolutionary Syris 300 ™ patented subsurface technology which allows us to see approximately 1mm below the skin's surface. This allows to have a more complete patient assessment and treatment, with reduced procedure times and improved outcomes.
We utilize the D940 SkinPulse S laser ™ to treat facial spider veins. Laser energy is applied first through a hand piece that is extremely small and lightweight. The 5 Hertz system allows patients to be treated quickly and efficiently. The laser can be set to pulse or continuous mode. Spot sizes are easily interchangeable and come in 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 millimeter sizes. Our D940 laser has the smallest focal spot available for treating spider veins. This allows precise treatment of fine spider vein networks. At The Vein Institute of Toronto the sole function of the D940 Skin Pulse Laser is the treatment of spider veins. We do not believe in multi-functional lasers which are not tailored to one specific application.
Linear Branch-Like Spider-Shaped
Although discomfort with the surface laser treatments is minimal, we utilize a Zimmer Cryo Cool 6 ™ air cooling device to increase the patient’s comfort. The Zimmer Cryo Cool 6 ™ air cooler is designed both for comfort and safety. Cooling the skin during a laser treatment protects the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) from potential damage while making the treatments more comfortable for the patient. Because cooling the skin protects it from damage, the laser power can be increased to more effective levels, making each treatment maximally beneficial and minimizing the number of treatments. We are the first clinic in Canada to utilize a Zimmer Cryo Cool 6 ™ for surface laser spider vein treatments.
We also perform sclerotherapy for larger green reticular veins of the face with very low dose 0.25% Sotadecrol solution. This may require anywhere from one to three treatments and is associated with some short term bruising.
The duration and number of sessions will vary depending on the severity of the condition and the location. The majority of facial veins can be treated in one session; however, two to three treatment sessions spaced four to six weeks apart may be required.
Post Procedure Protocol:
As with any procedure, some mild side-effects might occur. These side effects include slight redness to the skin tone or mild swelling in the treated area.

Common recommendations for the patient:

  • Stay out of the sun and tanning beds for at least two weeks
  • Wear at least 45 SPF sunblock on your face for at least two weeks
Exemple
Before
Before
After
After
   
Before
Before
After
After
References
  1. Thierry Passeron, et.al., The New 940-Nanometer Diode Laser: An Effective Treatment for Leg Venulectasia., 2003
  2. P. Kaudewitz, Effective Treatment of Leg Vein Telangiectasia with the New 940nm Diode Laser., 2001
  3. P. Kaudewitz, Treatment of Leg Vein Telangiectases: 1-Year Results with the New 940nm Diode Laser., 2001
  4. E. Victor Ross, et.al., Laser Leg Vein Treatment: A Brief Overview., 2003 Leslie Baumann, MD, Using the 940-nm Laser for Facial Indications., 2005.
Post Procedure Instructions for Patients:

THE VEIN INSTITUTE OF TORONTO
www.theveininstitute.com
416-929-0834

Facial Sclerotherapy and Laser Therapy Protocol

WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE MY SCLEROTHERAPY/LASER TREATMENT?

1. Do not apply cream to your face on the day of your appointment.

2. Do not take aspirin or blood thinners 3-5 days prior to procedure.

3. Eat a snack one hour prior to your treatment.

4. Bring a hat for sun protection on the day of your treatment.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER MY SCLEROTHERAPY/LASER TREATMENT?

1. You can resume normal activities today.

2. You can shower in the morning but no hot baths, hot tub, sauna for 1 week.

3. Bruising, local swelling and some tenderness are normal after treatment peaking at 48 hours, but please feel free to call the office if you have any questions.

4. Use sunscreen SPF 45 for at least 2 weeks following procedure.

5. No sun tanning, tanning beds for two weeks after your treatment.

6. Apply Aloa Vera or Vaseline to treatment area at night to prevent dehydration.

7. If there is swelling, wrap ice in a cloth and apply to the affected area.

8. You will not notice an immediate improvement. Clearance usually occurs over a 2-week period and in some cases may take up to 6 weeks.

Common Questions About Leg and Facial Vein Treatment
What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are small, thin superficial capillaries that lie close to the surface of the skin. They can look like tree branches or a spider web with their short jagged lines. Spider veins can be found on both the legs and the face and can cover both very small and very large areas of skin.
What Causes Spider Veins?
No one knows exactly the cause of spider veins, but several factors including heredity are believed to cause a person to be more likely to develop them. Oral contraceptives, hormone changes and therapy, sun exposure and the natural aging process also may contribute to their development. Spider veins may also be related to rosacea, and other trauma to the skin or may be heredity.
How do treatments work?
The D940 Skin Pulse Laser ™ delivers precise dosages of energy to targeted veins with minimal risk to surrounding healty skin. The energy is absorbed by the targeted vein(s) causing thermal coagulation of the blood in the vessel.
What do treatments feel like?
Most experience little if any discomfort at the treatment site. The sensation and the degree of discomfort varies with each person. When pulses of light are delivered some patients feel a mild pinching or stinging sensation. Similar to the light snap of a rubber band. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required, however some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated. We also utilize the Zimmer Cryo Cool 6 ™ air cooler to minimize patient discomfort.
How many treatments will I need?
Typically, 1 to 3 treatments may be required; Depending on severity, clients usually notice significant improvement within one to two treatments.
Will the veins return after treatment?
Over time it is possible for new veins to appear, but these too can be removed. Optimal results can be maintained only if you apply sunscreen and avoid direct exposure to the sun.
How can I prevent spider veins?
You can do a number of things to help prevent veins and to relieve discomfort from those you have:
  • Protect your skin from the sun by wearing at least 30 SPF sunblock sunscreen everyday to limit spider veins your face
  • Wear a hat when out in the sun for greater than 10 minutes
  • Apply a 45 SPF sunblock in the summer months from may to September when in the sun

Call 416-929-0834 for a Complimentary Physician Consultation

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