Why do patients get burned / blistered / scarred from facial vein treatments?

Question

I have small red facial veins on my cheeks and I'm thinking about getting a laser treatment. I keep reading horror stories about patients getting burned / blistered / scarred from their laser treatments (Veingogh, IPL, etc). I'm taking these stories with a grain of salt, but I'd like to know -- why are these patients getting burned? Did the doctor set the laser too high? Was the patient using a retinol cream that made the skin more sensitive? How can I reduce my risk of getting burned?

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi X.  The reason for a burn on facial veins could be incorrect technology or an inexperienced practitioner.  A referral is the best way to find someone, but if not that, then make the practice show you before and after pictures of their own patients.We believe the top 2 options for facial veins are as follows:  532 nanometer KTP lasers and 1064 long pulsed Nd:Yg lasers.  Anything else will not work as well or have a much higher risk of blisters, scabbing or burns.To see examples of Long Beach and Orange County, CA before and after pictures for facial spider vein removal, check the link below.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Treatment for facial veins around the orbit, also known as periorbital veins include sclerotherapy or RF treatment and someties lasers. Telangiectasias of the face are treated with IPL or laser and sometime thermocagulation and RF. The key is to find someone who has expertise with all of these treatments and can do it safely and with settings that minimize the risk of collateral skin injury and undue inflammation. The key word here is EXPERIENCE. Having said that, all of these treatments have been shown to cause skin injury.

John Landi, MD · Answer

Any heat treatment of veins (laser, IPL, VeinGogh, VeinWave, micro needle radio frequency) has the potential to cause all of the problems that you describe. Using retinol cream may also make you more sensitive to the heat treatment. Fortunately, the incidence of complications following facial vein treatments is very low and I would recommend that you see someone who is experienced in treating facial veins.

Why do patients get burned / blistered / scarred from facial vein treatments?

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Why do patients get burned / blistered / scarred from facial vein treatments?

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