ClearV: What You Need to Know

Pros

• ClearV treats a wide range of vascular concerns.
• It’s suitable for all skin types and tones, in the hands of an experienced provider. 
• Popular treatment areas include the face, neck, chest, and legs, but it can treat skin anywhere on the body.
• It’s a quick treatment, taking just 30 minutes on average. 
• It typically requires no downtime, so you’ll be able to resume normal activities right away. 
• The ClearV laser is nonablative, meaning it leaves the surface of your skin intact while the laser heats the lower layer. 
• The device cools the skin during treatment, to minimize discomfort.

Cons

• ClearV can’t treat varicose veins.
• While the treatment is tolerable, you may feel a brief hot, stinging sensation (like the snap of a rubber band) as your skin absorbs the laser energy. 
• You may need a series of up to six treatments, a month apart, and results aren’t immediate. 
• Touch-up sessions may also be required to maintain your results over time.
• As with other Nd:YAG lasers, ClearV treatment can have poor outcomes, including burns and scars, in the hands of an inexperienced provider. 
• Not all providers consider the Nd:YAG laser to be the best option to treat vascular issues. In many practices, the pulsed-dye laser is considered the gold standard for addressing these concerns. Others prefer sclerotherapy to treat spider veins. A vascular specialist can recommend the best treatment option for your specific concerns. 

RealSelf Tip: Nd:YAG lasers like this one are considered “pigment-friendly,” so it can safely, effectively treat all skin types and tones—with longer wavelengths and pulse durations that lower the risk of skin damage. To be safe, a test spot should be performed for patients with olive, brown, or deep skin tones, to ensure they’re a good candidate.

This in-office treatment can be performed by a physician or a technician under their supervision.

Here’s what to expect:

• You’ll be asked to wear safety goggles or glasses to protect your eyes. 
• After your skin is cleansed, a gel will be applied to the treatment area to keep your skin cool and help the laser glide across it.
• Your provider will adjust the settings on the laser, including the amount of energy it delivers (joules) and the amount of time the energy is delivered (pulse width).
• The handpiece has an integrated spot size adjuster, so they’ll be able to easily select the right spot size for the treatment area.
• They will then move the handpiece across your skin, delivering the laser energy. 
• You’ll feel a hot pinprick sensation throughout the treatment; it’s briefly uncomfortable, but anesthesia isn’t usually required. 
• Depending on the size of the area being treated, the procedure takes a few minutes to an hour.

When your treatment is over, your skin may feel warm or hot, and you may experience some slight swelling. Icing the area can help reduce any discomfort.

You won’t need any time off work for recovery after a ClearV treatment, but you may want to take some social downtime while your skin heals. 

For a day or two after treatment, it’s normal to experience:

• A sunburn sensation and a “cat scratch” appearance
• Slight bruising and some soreness

Compressing the treated area (particularly after spider vein treatment) and avoiding vigorous exercise for the first 48 hours post-treatment can help minimize these side effects.