Thank you for your question about spider veins and broken blood vessels. It is very common to have smaller spider veins and broken blood vessels left behind after Sclerotherapy and that is when IPL or Intense Pulsed Light, and Laser treatment of spider veins and leg veins can be most helpful.

In fact, we often use sclerotherapy on the larger spider veins and leg veins before we use IPL for spider veins or Laser to “clean up” the smaller spider veins and leg veins and broken blood vessels that are left behind. Results of IPL treatment of spider veins can be excellent and provide beautiful vein removal results as seen in the before and after picture of IPL spider vein removal below:

Before and after picture of IPL spider vein leg vein removal

IPL is a newer treatment for spider veins, leg veins and broken blood vessels and has many advantages over laser therapy. The IPL is a less intense form of light therapy and IPL leg vein treatments tend to cause less discomfort than many laser treatments. IPL treatment of spider veins and leg veins does not cause bruising as does the Pulsed Dye Laser, thus there is less visible down time after IPL treatment. In my experience there is also less risk of skin injury that can result is white marks where the vein has been removed after healing.

IPL works best on spider veins and leg veins that are 4 millimeters or less. Larger veins often require treatment with the 1064 laser. Veins that are even larger require Sclerotherapy first before IPL and or laser treatment.

How Long Does IPL Removal of Spider Veins and Leg Veins Take?

The average IPL spider vein removal takes about 30 minutes. However it depends on how many veins need to be removed. You will need three treatments scheduled 4-6 weeks apart. You will see gradual improvement as the IPL causes the spider veins and leg veins to close down and disappear slowly over 5 weeks. We encourage you to wear compression stockings right after treatment.

How Long is Recovery or Down Time after Removal of Spider Veins?

Using IPL there is no bruising or noticeable marks. The only down time would be the time you wear support hose after treatment. Smaller spider veins high on the leg frequently do not require wearing the support hose.

What Does IPL Spider Vein Removal Cost?

Average IPL spider vein and leg vein treatments cost between $350-$500 per treatment. The cost is based on the time required for your treatment. Larger areas can be more expensive.

Where Should I Go For IPL or Laser Spider Vein Removal?

The most experienced and best trained providers of IPL and laser therapies are board certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists. Not all of these physicians offer IPL and laser treatments so you will have to search the internet and find board certified doctors who do these treatments.

For more information on spider vein, leg vein and broken blood vessel removal with IPL call 978-369-4499 or email me. Read our free newsletter to keep up on the latest non-surgical and laser face and body rejuvenation techniques. Read Save Your Face to learn how to prevent facial aging.

Dr. Seckel
Boston, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts

Dear Betty,

Thank you for your important question. Millions of people men and women alike are bothered by leg veins and spider veins on the calves and thighs.

We do have the latest and most effective spider vein and leg vein treatments available in our office. We use the Palomar®Lux1064® laser to remove spider veins and leg veins which is different from endovenous laser therapy.

Before and After Lux Green IPL Treatment of Starburst Spider Veins

There have been many other lasers used to treat leg veins and spider veins but most have not been able to effectively remove larger spider veins and leg veins and have not been able top treat the deeper communicating veins and thus the spider veins and leg veins tend to come back.

The 1064 laser is the best laser to treat spider veins and leg veins because it is able to remove veins as large as 4 mm in diameter and is able to penetrate deeper beneath the skin surface where the communicating veins reside.

Before and After Leg Vein Treatment with the Lux Green IPL

I have tried all of the 1064 lasers on the market and chose the Palomar®Lux1064® laser because in my hands it worked the best. The Lux1064® effectively removes spider veins and leg veins and larger red vessels on the face. More importantly the Palomar®Lux1064® is much les painful than the other 1064 lasers I tried. I believe the unique pulse characteristic of the Palomar®Lux1064® delivers the laser energy in a way that causes much less discomfort than the others I tried.

Laser removal of spider veins and leg veins is effective for veins with a diameter of 4 mm or less. Larger and starburst leg veins may require sclerotherapy which is an injection technique. With sclerotherapy a solution of hypertonic saline is injected into the larger veins to close them. Afterwards the 1064 laser is used to “clean up” the smaller veins left behind.

Larger leg veins that are actually bulging out from the skin are called varicose veins. Varicose veins have traditionally been removed by surgery requiring an incision. However new endovenous laser therapy can remove larger leg veins without surgery by placing a laser catheter inside the vein and closing the varicose vein with endovenous laser energy.Endovenous laser therapy is a revolutionary and very exciting new treatment for varicose veins.

If you would like to learn more about the laser removal of leg veins, spider veins, and starburst veins please contact me. Be sure to sign up for my free email newsletter to keep up with new developments. For more information on prevention of aging and the new laser technology read Save Your Face.

Thank you,

Dr. Seckel

978-369-4499

Concord, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts