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Facial Blood Vessels

At the Institute of Cosmetic & Laser Surgery, we now offer Coolglide® laser for the long term reduction of blood vessels on the face and legs. The Coolglide® laser uses laser light instead of needles to destroy the vessels without damaging the skin surface. This procedure provides a greater comfort level for patients with minimal down time. Coolglide® can also be used for hair removal. The wavelengths are modified to target the pigment in the hair follicle.

The refrigerated cool tip of the hand piece protects and cools the skin allowing the deep penetration of the laser. The pigment in the blood absorbs the laser light pulse. This destroys the vessel without damaging the surrounding tissues. The body will then re-absorb the vessel, and the blood flow is re-directed through the deeper veins, where it should be. The procedure can be safely used on all areas of the body. Coolglide® can also be used to treat prominent vessels in the eye area.

Pre-treatment Preparation:

• When treating the face. do not wear make up.
• No tanning 2 weeks prior to treatment. This also can interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment.
• The area being treated should be clipped or shaved 1 day prior to treatment. Any dark hair on the skin surface will absorb the laser light, and possibly cause a minor burn.
• Some patients may want to take a Tylenol or Advil 2 hours prior to treatment, to help minimize any discomfort.

Patients may feel a slight tingling or snapping sensation during the procedure. The Coolglide® treatments will cause no bleeding or open areas on the skin. The first treatment is often the most uncomfortable, as most of the vessels are being destroyed during this visit. Patients can take a Tylenol or Advil 2 hours prior to their visit if they have a low pain threshold. It is recommended that the area being treated be clipped or shaved. Hair on the surface of the skin can reduce the energy level of the treatment, and possibly cause a minor burn.

There are many factors that can cause un-wanted blood vessels such as, age, rosacea, medications, sun exposure, genetic background, and pregnancy. All of these factors will also have an effect on the re-growth, or the appearance of new vessels, and the number of treatments that will be required. The number of treatments needed can also be affected by the depth of the vessel as well as the size and colouration.

Post-treatment Care:

• Avoid tanning or excess sun exposure for 2 weeks following treatment. A good sunscreen should be worn at all times.
• The skin may be dry or tight around the area that has been treated. A good moisturizer is recommended.
• Unlike sclerotherapy (injections using needles), there is no need to wear support stockings, or apply a dressing.
• If blistering or scaling appears, contact your physician immediately, this is a very rare occurrence. This will usually resolve within a few days.

Please note that larger leg veins, such as varicose and sometimes even some spider veins, require sclerotherapy. Often the smaller vessels, which are too tiny to inject are easily treated with Coolglide®.