Question:
60 Facial spider veins I have facial spider veins and want to have them removed. Is it painful to have them removed with a laser? What type of scaring, if any, remains? How long before the redness disappears? Will the veins reappear?

Answer: As one ages it is common to see small red blood vessels in the facial skin especially in lighter complexioned individuals. One of the least invasive means of treating these is the flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser. The beam is absorbed by the red blood contained in small arteries close to the skin surface. These small blood vessels instantly clot off & then resorb. Due to the nature of blood flow seeking the path of least resistance more than 1 laser treatment or future maintenance treatments may be required. This laser causes little or no skin surface damage & has a very rapid recovery time. Usually no anesthetic is required. The vessels can also be injected using a sclerosing solution but this should not be done around the eyes. The material contained here should not be considered a substitute for a physician. These are only general guidelines to help you think about the medical possibilities. You are encouraged to consult your own health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.