Is a Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment Painful?

Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, is quite tolerable, often described as uncomfortable, rather than painful. Treatment with the Rohrer Spectrum involves a succession of quick, hot pricks or a burning/tingling sensation as the laser passes over the vein. Your skin may feel sensitive after treatment, but topical numbing creams are often applied prior to treatment to maximize your comfort. You may take breaks as needed during a session for comfort. Your skin may be sensitive for a few hours to a couple of days after the treatment.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, often requires around 2-4 appointments. Dr. Sato will determine the number of appointments you will need based on your skin’s condition. The larger, more severe, and more numerous your veins, the more appointments you will need. Additionally, larger areas of your skin, such as your legs, may require more appointments than your face. Each appointment is usually 4-8 weeks apart to allow your skin to heal and for your body to absorb the treated veins.

How Long Until I See the Results?

It is normal to see the targeted veins from your spider vein/vascular lesion treatment look temporarily worse for the first few days, appearing darker than usual and accompanied by bruising, swelling, and redness. Initial results from lightening and fading will begin within a couple of weeks, as the veins are naturally absorbed into your body. Final results will likely appear over a few months, depending on how severe your veins are. You may see final results for smaller spider veins/vascular lesions within just a few days. Optimal results are also more likely to occur if proper care is taken after initial treatment, such as using sun protection, avoiding strenuous exercise, and environments that cause sweating, such as saunas.

Can I Combine a Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment with Other Procedures?

You can combine a spider vein/vascular lesion treatment with other procedures to address multiple skin concerns at once. For instance, you may combine treatment with other spider vein/vascular lesion procedures, such as sclerotherapy for larger veins and laser for smaller ones, which can actually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of results. You may also combine the treatment with other cosmetic procedures to enhance your skin’s overall appearance, such as chemical peels , dermal fillers , and skin resurfacing . If you have questions about which procedures you want to combine with your spider vein/vascular lesion treatment, ask Dr. Sato in your consultation, and she will happily inform you on which procedures are safe to combine.

What Are the Risks Associated with a Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment?

Though Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment is generally safe, it’s critical to be aware of the potential risks and side effects associated with the procedure. The side effects are usually mild, lasting only a few hours to a couple of days, while serious complications are rarer. After receiving treatment, you may experience: Redness, swelling, and bruising at the targeted area. Tenderness or soreness, similar to a sunburn-like sensation Skin irritation, such as itching and crusting Skin discoloration is more likely in patients with darker or tanned skin. Serious side effects you may experience include: Burning or scarring may occur if the laser contacts the treated area for too long. Blood clots may form when deeper veins are targeted. Nerve damage, chronic pain, or numbness may occur from the laser’s heat. Serious side effects are extremely unlikely, as Dr. Sato is a highly trained professional, always exercises caution when performing treatment, and clearly communicates the proper recovery steps you should take to ensure optimal results. If you have any questions or concerns about any possible risks associated with spider vein/vascular lesion treatment, ask Dr. Sato during your consultation.

Abilene, TX

In Abilene, TX

Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment

Introduction to Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment

Vascular lesions are abnormal growths or malformations of blood vessels occurring in various parts of the body. Spider veins, a type of acquired vascular lesion, are thin red, blue, or purple veins just under your skin that have been damaged. They’re caused when small blood vessels just beneath your skin weaken and expand from things like hormonal changes, genetic syndromes, connective tissue diseases, or injury. Their web-like appearance resembles that of spider webs and most often develops on the legs and face, but can be present anywhere on the body.

Even though spider veins and vascular lesions are usually harmless, getting rid of them through treatment can help you feel better about how your skin looks. Dr. Erika Sato’s practice in Abilene, TX, specializes in spider vein/vascular lesion treatment, offering a simple and easy way to improve your skin and your confidence.

Achieve Balance

Spider Vein/ Vascular Lesion Treatment

Since spider veins/vascular lesions are typically harmless, you generally only need to get treatment if you don’t like how they look. There are a few types of treatment, most commonly including sclerotherapy, laser therapy, and microphlebectomy. Dr. Sato’s practice in Abilene, TX, uses the Rohrer Spectrum laser to treat spider veins/vascular lesions.

This non-invasive procedure uses the laser’s specific wavelengths to destroy the blood vessels. The blood’s hemoglobin absorbs light energy, heating up, coagulating, and causing the vessel walls to collapse. This procedure is best for facial spider veins, but it can also target leg veins.

Meet the Doctor

Dr. Erika Sato

Plastic Surgeon Dr. Sato, located in Abilene, TX, is an expert in her field. She has numerous years of experience performing a myriad of cosmetic surgeries and nonsurgical rejuvenations, including spider vein/vascular lesion treatment, facial, breast, and body treatments, and much more. She is affiliated with the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS), the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Texas Medical Association (TMA), and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). With a philosophy of creating a new and confident you to reveal the beauty that lies within by shaping your outer body, Dr. Sato truly values you enjoying your experience and achieving the results you desire.

Am I a Good Candidate?

It’s important to recognize the features of spider veins/vascular lesions, so you can determine if you are a good candidate for treatment. You are likely a good candidate for spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, if you have the following:

Spider veins/vascular lesions: These small, thin veins, usually appearing on the legs and face, appear in purple, red, or blue.
Concern for your cosmetic appearance: Though small, spider veins can be noticeable to yourself and others, and removing them can boost your cosmetic confidence.
Symptoms of discomfort: Spider veins may appear after prolonged sitting or standing, leading to mild itching, pain, or heaviness in the affected area.
Underlying venous issues: Though rarer, pain may also be connected to chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), which involves more severe symptoms of pain. Treatment can prevent worsening symptoms.

You are not a good candidate for spider vein/vascular lesion treatment if:

You are pregnant or breastfeeding: we recommend waiting no fewer than three months after delivery to get treatment, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your veins often improve to a normal state after the first few months after delivery, so interrupting this process can damage your veins that are already naturally receding.

Dr. Sato will assess your medical history during your consultation and inform you if spider vein/vascular lesion treatment is the right option for you.

Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment Recovery

Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, typically leads to a relatively quick recovery period, but it’s important to take immediate action after treatment to ensure a safe, efficient recovery.

During your first week of recovery, the treated area will likely be sore. We recommend wearing compression stockings and walking to promote circulation, but avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and prolonged sitting or standing. You should use sunscreen on the treated area if exposed to the sun to prevent skin discoloration. You may take over-the-counter medications to ease your discomfort.

By the end of the second week, swelling and redness will likely resolve. Your treated veins will continue to fade, and you should continue wearing compression stockings. Over the next couple of weeks, you may resume light exercise, but it is still recommended that you avoid high-impact exercise and heat-exposing activities, such as the sauna.

By the end of the first month, your spider veins/vascular lesions will be significantly lighter but may still be visible. It’s important to maintain healthy habits, such as staying active, walking, and wearing compression stockings as needed, and protecting the targeted area from the sun. Results are often complete after several months. Some patients may require additional treatment.

Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment Results

Spider vein/vascular lesion results usually take 2-6 weeks to fully resolve, depending on the size and depth of the lesions. While some patients may see gradual fading over the course of post-treatment recovery, others may see the targeted spider veins/vascular lesions become darker before fading to lighter tones.

Unlike other laser surgeries, such as laser hair removal, our spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, permanently removes the targeted veins. Even though the targeted veins removed do not return, there is still potential for new spider veins/vascular lesions to develop.

Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment Cost

Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, is mainly affected by the type and extent of the veins being treated, the type of procedure you choose, and the number of sessions you need. If your veins are larger, more severe, more complex, more frequent, or harder to locate, the treatment cost will be higher. Additionally, more sessions result in a higher cost. During your consultation with Dr. Sato, you will receive a medical assessment to determine the cost of your treatment.

Spider Vein/Vascular Lesion Treatment FAQ’S

Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, is quite tolerable, often described as uncomfortable, rather than painful. Treatment with the Rohrer Spectrum involves a succession of quick, hot pricks or a burning/tingling sensation as the laser passes over the vein. Your skin may feel sensitive after treatment, but topical numbing creams are often applied prior to treatment to maximize your comfort. You may take breaks as needed during a session for comfort. Your skin may be sensitive for a few hours to a couple of days after the treatment.
Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment in Abilene, TX, often requires around 2-4 appointments. Dr. Sato will determine the number of appointments you will need based on your skin’s condition. The larger, more severe, and more numerous your veins, the more appointments you will need. Additionally, larger areas of your skin, such as your legs, may require more appointments than your face. Each appointment is usually 4-8 weeks apart to allow your skin to heal and for your body to absorb the treated veins.
It is normal to see the targeted veins from your spider vein/vascular lesion treatment look temporarily worse for the first few days, appearing darker than usual and accompanied by bruising, swelling, and redness. Initial results from lightening and fading will begin within a couple of weeks, as the veins are naturally absorbed into your body.

Final results will likely appear over a few months, depending on how severe your veins are. You may see final results for smaller spider veins/vascular lesions within just a few days. Optimal results are also more likely to occur if proper care is taken after initial treatment, such as using sun protection, avoiding strenuous exercise, and environments that cause sweating, such as saunas.
You can combine a spider vein/vascular lesion treatment with other procedures to address multiple skin concerns at once. For instance, you may combine treatment with other spider vein/vascular lesion procedures, such as sclerotherapy for larger veins and laser for smaller ones, which can actually improve the effectiveness and efficiency of results.

You may also combine the treatment with other cosmetic procedures to enhance your skin’s overall appearance, such as chemical peels, dermal fillers, and skin resurfacing. If you have questions about which procedures you want to combine with your spider vein/vascular lesion treatment, ask Dr. Sato in your consultation, and she will happily inform you on which procedures are safe to combine.
Though Spider vein/vascular lesion treatment is generally safe, it’s critical to be aware of the potential risks and side effects associated with the procedure. The side effects are usually mild, lasting only a few hours to a couple of days, while serious complications are rarer. After receiving treatment, you may experience:
- Redness, swelling, and bruising at the targeted area.
- Tenderness or soreness, similar to a sunburn-like sensation
- Skin irritation, such as itching and crusting
- Skin discoloration is more likely in patients with darker or tanned skin.
Serious side effects you may experience include:
- Burning or scarring may occur if the laser contacts the treated area for too long.
- Blood clots may form when deeper veins are targeted.
- Nerve damage, chronic pain, or numbness may occur from the laser’s heat.
Serious side effects are extremely unlikely, as Dr. Sato is a highly trained professional, always exercises caution when performing treatment, and clearly communicates the proper recovery steps you should take to ensure optimal results. If you have any questions or concerns about any possible risks associated with spider vein/vascular lesion treatment, ask Dr. Sato during your consultation.

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@dr.erikasato

Patient Reviews

“Dr Sato is Excellent! ”

Dr Sato is Excellent! She did a great job on my Botox, sunken eye issue resolved w filler (AMAZING) & luscious lips!!! She did my Mommy makeover a few years ago & every year when I go for my annual gyno & mammogram they always compliment me on my lift and implants! I trust her honest opinion! She is an artist! So glad I finally used her for my face! 🙂

— Kayla Hayes

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When you choose to pursue spider vein/vascular lesion treatment with Dr. Sato in Abilene, TX, you may schedule a consultation with our attentive, highly trained patient care coordinator, who will find a time for you to come into our office. If you need assistance, have questions, or have concerns, you may reach out during our business hours. We look forward to hearing from you!

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