Blood vessels are the lifelines of your body, providing oxygen and nutrients to every cell. They can also be a major source of pain, though, and many people have to deal with blood vessels that just won’t stay put.
Luckily, our laser for blood vessels can help. We’ve developed a new technology that uses infrared light to target blood vessels in the skin and cause them to shrink and die off, leaving you with smoother skin and fewer problems from those pesky veins.
Read on to learn more about Laser For Blood Vessels, Laser Treatment For Blemishes Cost and What to Expect During and After the Procedure
Laser For Blood Vessels
If you’ve noticed a surfacing of needle-point-sized red dots on your skin, you’re likely looking at visible evidence of broken capillaries. They are most common on the chin, cheeks, and nose and are caused by a variety of reasons. While broken capillaries are not dangerous or threatening to health, their prominence is often bothersome. The good news is, you can reduce the appearance of the red dots or clusters on your skin.
Broken capillaries are, as they’re called, broken. So far, there isn’t a treatment to repair or reverse the damage, but laser treatments can effectively remove the broken capillary so that it does not interrupt your otherwise even complexion.
How Laser Treatment for Broken Capillaries Works
Before getting into the treatment of broken capillaries, it’s helpful to understand the capillary composition and function in the body. Capillaries are the body’s tiniest blood vessels. They’re super thin, about the width of a piece of hair and only one-cell big. This tiny tube transports oxygen and important nutrients throughout the body. Since capillaries are so delicate, the ones that run just beneath the surface of the skin can be sensitive to harsh external (or internal) factors.
A few environmental factors that lead to broken capillaries include:
- UV exposure
- Extreme temperature changes
- Windburn
Bad habits that lead to broken capillaries:
- Popping pimples with excessive force or fingernails
- Excessive drinking
- Excessive smoking
Other factors that lead to broken capillaries:
- Genetics
- Hormones
- Aging
- Trauma
- Medications
- Medical conditions
People most susceptible to broken capillaries:
- Fair skin tones
- Sensitive skin types
When capillaries are exposed to one or many of the factors above, they dilate or swell, and the inflammation causes a quiet burst, notifying you later on with the presence of a micro red dot on your skin’s surface.
As we mentioned before, there’s no going back to repair broken capillaries. Once the blood vessel has burst, it’s over. However, these hairline vessels can be removed from beneath the skin, thus eliminating the red dots they’ve left as notifications on your cheeks, nose or chin.
Laser for Broken Capillaries Works Magic
While it’s technically science and not magic, the ability of lasers to remove broken capillaries is phenomenal. The magic behind the method involves a protein that lives in the capillary, called hemoglobin. As the laser targets the capillary, hemoglobin absorbs the beam and then, potent energy blasts the broken broken blood vessel. It’s possible for the capillary to dissolve right away, but it’s for it to become more prominent for a short period (up to a few weeks) before dissolving entirely.
Laser for Broken Capillaries on the Face Is Safe
Laser treatments on facial skin are safe, but it’s important to talk with your physician and all caretakers of your skin to ensure that your skin type is a good candidate for laser treatment.
Laser for Sun Damage Works, Too
As sun damage is a common cause of broken capillaries in the first place, laser treatment is an effective method to apply toward your overall treatment plan for sun-damaged skin. Remember, if you have laser removal for broken capillaries, more capillaries can still break, so minimize time with skin exposed to the sun and continue to practice strict sun protection habits.
Laser Treatment for Sun Damage Can Be Prevented
While we’re personally indebted to laser treatments for removal of unsightly evidence of overexposure to sun and harsh weather, it’s important to remember that many instances of skin damage can be avoided, too.
For all skin types, but especially those with sensitive skin, it’s critical to remember that UV rays, wind, and toxic environments can especially alarm the skin and overwhelm the capillaries to the point of bursting. Take extra precautions in daily life:
- Pack pocket-sized sunscreen for reapplication
- Keep facial skin covered when outside
- Opt for the shade
- Use gentle face wash
- Avoid frequent use of exfoliants
- Choose products with natural ingredients
- Avoid environments with smoke, pollution or otherwise toxic air
- Use lukewarm water on the skin instead of hot or cold
- Resist the temptation to pop a pimple; it’s not worth the long-term damage
- Notify your facialist so they avoid extreme temperatures and harsh chemicals in their treatment of your skin
- Treat your skin to frequent at-home facial treatments – your gentle capillaries will appreciate the love
What to Expect with Laser Treatment
Laser treatment for broken capillaries is swift, lasting up to a few minutes at the most. Activities and makeup can be resumed immediately, though icing is recommended for the first 30 minutes after treatment. Treatment frequency varies per patient, but most can expect 1-3 treatments total with about 30 days between each treatment.
Not Sure If It’s Broken Capillaries?
You’re not alone and you’re right – there could be a number of causes for brown spots on your skin. In fact, getting a medical opinion on the genesis of your pigmentation is the first best in an intelligent and safe approach to skin treatment. Find out more about your pigmentation and how to even out skin tone by making an appointment with Dr. Rochlin.
Dr. Semone Rochlin
If you have sun-damaged skin and want to achieve smoother texture and pigmentation, Dr. Semone Rochlin can help. Dr. Rochlin’s decade of experience as a practicing physician makes her the most knowledgeable, understanding, compassionate, and decisive resource in your journey toward renewed skin. Make an appointment today for an expert analysis of your brown skin spots and find out the best course of action to take for your ideal results. We look forward to helping you reclaim your inherent glow!
Laser Treatment For Blemishes Cost
There are various types of lasers used in these procedures
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2017, the average cost of laser skin resurfacing was $1,114-$2,124, which was average $2,071 in 2018. In 2019, the average cost of this procedure was $1,963 for ablatives and $1,201 for non-ablative. The cost varies widely depending on the type of procedure and areas of treatment.
Because laser skin resurfacing surgeries are not life-saving surgeries, there is no insurance coverage provided by the companies, except for the surgeries that are done to remove precancerous growth or modified scars on your skin.
The average cost does not include other related expenses. Therefore, you must consult your plastic surgeon and your insurance company before the procedure about payments. Most health insurance company plans do not provide coverage for cosmetic surgery or its complications. However, most plastic surgeons offer some payment options, so meet your plastic surgeon and determine your final cost.
The cost of laser skin resurfacing will vary based on the expertise, qualification of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure, the type of procedure, the time and effort required for that treatment, and the location of the office.
Generally, laser skin resurfacing procedure costs may include the following:
- Hospital facility cost for surgery
- Anesthesia fees
- Medication prescription
Satisfaction involves more than a fee. Therefore, while choosing a plastic surgeon for this procedure, you must assure the surgeon’s experience and your comfort, which are the most important aspects as much as the cost.
What is skin resurfacing?
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that removes layers of the skin and improves its appearance or treats minor facial flaws such as blemishes or acne scars by using lasers.
There are various types of lasers used in these procedures such as:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): This type of laser is used to treat wrinkles, scars, and warts on your skin.
- Erbium: It is used to remove superficial or moderately deep lines and wrinkles on your face, hands, neck, and chest. It has fewer side effects than CO2 lasers.
- Pulsed-dye laser: These are non-ablative lasers that heat the skin and absorb pigments to reduce redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and enlargement of facial blood vessels, giving rosacea (flushed appearance).
- Fractional laser: It treats only the fraction of the skin in the area by breaking laser energy into thousands of tiny beams. It can be used in ablative or non-ablative procedures. It can be used to treat age-related blemishes.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL): This treatment does not use a laser but uses a broad spectrum of light wavelength to treat pigmentations of the skin.
When should you have laser skin resurfacing?
You can ask for this procedure to a plastic surgeon if you have the following:
- Acne scars
- Age spots
- Crow’s feet (wrinkle at the outer corner of your eye)
- Sagged skin
- Scars
- Signs of sun damage to the skin
- Wrinkles
What are the possible risks of laser skin resurfacing?
Risks include:
- Pain
- Reactivation of herpes sores over lips
- Burning sensation
- Burns
- Itching
- Swelling
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Increased risk of sun damage
- Crusting of your skin
- Pigmentation or discoloration of the skin
- Bumps due to obstruction of the sweat glands
Laser treatment for face
If aging, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, scars, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may help your skin look younger and healthier.
Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface. The procedure can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgeries on the face.
Preparing for Laser Resurfacing
Start by consulting a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to find out if you’re a good candidate.
Tell your doctor if you get cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth. Laser skin resurfacing can trigger breakouts in people who are at risk.
If you decide to go ahead with laser skin resurfacing, your doctor will ask you to not take any medications or supplements — such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E — that can affect clotting for 10 days before surgery.
If you smoke, you should stop for two weeks before and after the procedure. Smoking can prolong healing.
Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic medication beforehand to prevent bacterial infections and also an antiviral medication if you are prone to cold sores or fever blisters.
What to Expect During and After the Procedure
Laser resurfacing is done by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll not have to stay overnight.
The doctor may treat wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, or forehead individually or treat your entire face. For small areas, the doctor will numb the areas to be treated with a local anesthetic and may also sedate you. You may require general anesthesia if your whole face is being treated.
Treating just parts of the face takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A full-face treatment takes up to two hours.
Following the laser procedure, the doctor will bandage the treated areas. After 24 hours, you will need to clean the treated areas four to five times a day and then apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly to prevent scabs from forming.
Swelling after laser skin resurfacing is normal. Your doctor may prescribe steroids to manage swelling around your eyes. Sleeping on an extra pillow at night can also ease swelling.
You may feel itching or stinging for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure. Five to seven days after laser resurfacing, your skin will become dry and peel.
Depending on the problem that was treated, healing typically takes 10 to 21 days. Once the skin heals, you can wear oil-free makeup to minimize redness, which usually fades in two to three months.
You will also probably notice that your skin is lighter for a while after surgery. It is particularly important that you use a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen, which screens ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A rays, to protect your skin during that time. When selecting a sunscreen, look for one specially formulated for use on the face with a 7% (or higher) zinc oxide content and a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.Reapply your sunscreen every two hours when you are out, and more often if you are sweating or swimming.
It is also important to keep your new skin well moisturized. If you use Retin A or glycolic acid products, you should be able to start using them again after about six weeks or when the doctor says you can.
Benefits and Risks of Laser Resurfacing
Although skin resurfacing cannot produce perfect skin, it can improve the appearance of your skin. Potential risks of the procedure include:
- Burns or other injuries from the laser’s heat
- Scarring
- Changes in the skin’s pigmentation, including areas of darker or lighter skin
- Reactivating herpes cold sores
- Bacterial infection
Cost of Laser Skin Resurfacing
The average cost for laser skin resurfacing was about $2509 for ablative and $1445 for non-ablative laser skin resurfacing in 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, costs vary widely depending on where the procedure is being done.
Because laser skin resurfacing is considered a cosmetic procedure, most medical insurance companies will not cover it. There may be an exception if you get the procedure to modify scars or remove precancerous growths on your skin.
Talk with your doctor and your insurance company before the procedure about what the costs will be and what, if anything, insurance will pay for. Most doctors offer financing options.