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Laser Treatment

Laser treatment of facial veins and pigmented lesions

What are lasers and how do they work?

Laser treatment is designed to emit a narrow, high intensity beam of light. There are many types of lasers used in Medicine-the laser we use at Odyssey is a Copper Bromide laser. Lasers can be designed to emit only one or several wavelengths (or colours) of light.

This means that the energy can be directed at something red in the skin (such as tiny blood vessels) that absorb yellow light, or something brown (age spots, sun spots, moles or pigmented warts) that absorb green light.

The unwanted cells can be damaged, but the normal skin cells are intact. This results in little discomfort and downtime plus rapid healing and minimal risk of scarring.

Veins on the face or chest

Many people, due to a combination of heredity, sun exposure, or medical conditions such as Rosacea have fine veins (also known as broken capillaries) or red marks (‘cherry’ spots) on their face, nose or chest.

The yellow light from the laser is absorbed by these veins damaging them whilst leaving surrounding skin cells intact. The veins then gradually fade as the body converts them to scar tissue.

The amount of treatment required to manage your condition will be discussed prior to the procedure. Most facial veins can be treated in 1 session of 20-30 minutes. A second treatment, 6-8 weeks later, may be required if they are large or extensive. This treatment is tolerated well without the need for anaesthetic. Some temporary redness of the skin may follow, but normal activities can be resumed immediately.

Facial veins

Example of reticular veins

Facial veins

Age spots

Age spots are flat brown marks that most commonly appear on areas of maximal sun exposure, especially hands and faces. The laser is a highly effective way of removing these lesions as the energy damages only the pigmented cells and leaves normal skin intact. There is a mild stinging sensation during treatment-the lesions subsequently darken and flake off about 1-2 weeks after the procedure.

Pigmented/senile warts (seborrhoeic keratoses)

Pigmented or senile warts are raised, wart like growths with a rough, irregular surface, that can occur anywhere on the body. They are most commonly seen on the scalp or hairline, and on the upper chest and neck. These lesions are non cancerous but can grow to be large and unsightly.

Laser Treatment For Skin Lesions

Our clinic uses a dual wavelength Copper Bromide laser manufactured here in Adelaide by Norseld. This type of laser is highly versatile and can treat vascular lesions such as facial veins and haemangiomas (a group of veins appearing as red spots), brown lesions such as age spots, and raised lesions such as senile or brown warts and skin tags.

The amount of treatment required to manage your condition will be discussed prior to the procedure. Most facial veins, age spots , seb k’s(brown warts) and skin tags can be treated in 1 session of 20-30 minutes. A second treatment, 6-8 weeks later, may be required if they are large or extensive. This treatment is tolerated well without the need for anaesthetic. Some temporary redness of the skin may follow, but normal activities can be resumed immediately.

Danielle Anthony

Odyssey Vein Clinic warmly welcomes our new laser nurse, Danielle Anthony.
Danielle graduated from Uni SA with a Bachelor of Nursing degree.
She has 16 years of nursing experience with a special interest in acute care and emergency medicine.
Danielle has a certificate in Laser and Intense Pulse Light Safety.

Meet the Team

Age spots before treatment

Age spots after treatment

Facial veins before treatment

Facial veins after treatment

Contact

Let’s get in touch

Free Initial Consult and Same Day Treatment

Adelaide Address

43 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood SA 5063

Mount Gambier Address

The Convent, 20 Penola Road, Mount Gambier SA 5290

Phone

08 7225 7808 or 0403 965 548

We look forward to hearing from you

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