I received a laser treatment to get rid of some of my spider veins. It's been three weeks and I've noticed that they just got darker! Does this mean it isn't working or it is?
August 10, 2016
Answer: Darkened veins Whether from laser or sclerotherapy, when a vein is closed a small amount of blood remains trapped in the vein, causing it to appear darker. I warn all of my patients that the vein may appear darker and can even feel hard and lumpy after treatment but this should fade away in a 6-8 weeks. If the vein does not appear to be lightening over time then you should have the area looked at again.
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August 10, 2016
Answer: Darkened veins Whether from laser or sclerotherapy, when a vein is closed a small amount of blood remains trapped in the vein, causing it to appear darker. I warn all of my patients that the vein may appear darker and can even feel hard and lumpy after treatment but this should fade away in a 6-8 weeks. If the vein does not appear to be lightening over time then you should have the area looked at again.
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August 10, 2016
Answer: Laser treatment of spider veins Without knowing more information, like the type of laser used and the size, color and location of the veins treated, it is hard to say for sure, but I have a couple of comments:It often takes more than one treatment to get rid of spider veins (depending on the size and color). I tell my patients to expect to need 2-3 treatments 4-6 weeks apart.The laser acts by targeting the 'color' in the veins and heats that area selectively. It takes 4-6 weeks to see a final result from a single treatment as the area recovers from that very localized 'burn.' The darkening you see may mean that the tiny veins have closed with a little blood trapped inside and it should fade over the next few weeks as the veins close completely.
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August 10, 2016
Answer: Laser treatment of spider veins Without knowing more information, like the type of laser used and the size, color and location of the veins treated, it is hard to say for sure, but I have a couple of comments:It often takes more than one treatment to get rid of spider veins (depending on the size and color). I tell my patients to expect to need 2-3 treatments 4-6 weeks apart.The laser acts by targeting the 'color' in the veins and heats that area selectively. It takes 4-6 weeks to see a final result from a single treatment as the area recovers from that very localized 'burn.' The darkening you see may mean that the tiny veins have closed with a little blood trapped inside and it should fade over the next few weeks as the veins close completely.
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