Minimally Invasive Anti-Aging Procedure

Neodymium: YAG Laser – For Treatment of Blood Vessels

How does the Neodymium:YAG Laser work?

The Neodymium:YAG Laser produces an intense burst of invisible laser light that selectively destroys fine superficial blood vessels without damaging the surrounding tissue. After laser treatment, the skin overlying the treated area remains intact. The blood vessels clot due to the effect of the laser light energy. They gradually diminish in visibility over several months.

The Neodymium:YAG Laser, at a wavelength of 1064 nanometers, targets blood vessels as deep as 3mm in the skin. It is reliable, safe and comfortable due to its cooling device. The operator can control the delivery of laser energy very precisely.

For vascular lesions, 3-4 treatment sessions 8 weeks apart is needed to achieve maximum improvement. The final result is not expected, and cannot be judged, for 3-4 months following the last treatment. This time line is dictated by the gradual healing of the skin due to new collagen formation, and the obliteration of small blood vessels in the treated areas.

Are there other ways to treat my vascular lesion?

Heredity, skin characteristics, activity (sedentary vs. ambulatory), pregnancy, and physiologic fluctuations in hormonal levels all contribute to the visibility, prominence and recurrence of the small vessels pre and post treatment. The primary treatment for lower extremity spider veins consists of injection with a sclerosing agent, which irritates the vessels and causes blood to clot within them. Injection therapy is to some degree self limited, in that residual vessels become smaller and smaller in diameter and are unable to be cannulated with even the smallest hypodermic needle. These types of vessels are best treated with YAG laser therapy.

Some types of leg telangiectasias are best treated by YAG laser initially. Blue vessels, especially on the legs, are best treated with a Yag laser if injection therapy is not appropriate. Facial telangiectasias (fine, red superficial vessels) are best treated with vascular laser therapy versus injection sclerotherapy, as injections into facial vessels are dangerous. Injection therapy and Yag laser treatment for lower extremity spider veins are complementary procedures whose application must be individualized to clinical circumstances and desires.

For other types of vascular lesions, such as port wine stain birthmarks, stretch marks, scars, facial spider veins or warts, some patients have tried surgery, electrocautery, cryotherapy (freezing the area) or tattooing. These procedures may result in scarring or may leave an unsatisfactory result.

Other lasers such as the Ruby Laser, Argon Laser and CO2 Laser have also been used to treat vascular lesions. These lasers are not as specific to the destruction of the blood vessels in vascular lesions and have resulted in scarring in many individuals. Because of the chance of scarring, the use of these lasers in infants and young children is not recommended.

If you have been treated by other modalities which resulted in scarring or loss of pigment, the lesion may not respond as well with the laser therapy. The scarring or loss of pigment may become more evident after treatment with the laser.

The depth of penetration of the YAG Laser is limited to vessels about 3mm in depth. Therefore, vessels deeper than this may not respond to the therapy.

What should I expect from this laser treatment?

Treatment with the YAG Laser will consist of multiple (3-4) treatments for best results. These treatments occur on an average of every 8 weeks. Individual situations may vary and it is best to discuss yours with Dr. Kuisle, Dr. Hartley, or your IV Seasons Skin Care aesthetician.

The type of vascular lesion to be treated will determine the number of treatments needed.

For some areas, a topical cream anesthetic or local injection can be used if requested. The cooling device included with the YAG Laser treatment automatically cools and numbs the skin prior to the laser light burst. The feeling of a laser pulse has been described as that of being snapped by a rubber band or a slight stinging sensation. Following laser treatment, the area may continue to sting slightly or feel warm like a sunburn for a few hours or days.

If a larger area is to be treated, anesthesia may be used. A small test area can be performed before the entire area is treated to evaluate your pain tolerance. Most patients tolerate this procedure without any need for anesthesia. Applying ice packs to treated areas can alleviate any discomfort experienced following the procedure.

The duration of your laser treatment depends on the size of the area you will have treated or the time allotted by Dr. Kuisle, Dr. Hartley, or their designated operator to perform your treatment. The usual treatment session lasts 15-30 minutes, and may be repeated at a minimum of 8 week intervals.

Are there any adverse effects?

With any laser therapy there is a possibility for adverse effects. The following are adverse effects that may occur with the YAG Laser:

• The treated area may hyperpigment, or appear darker after the bruising/red discoloration heals. Normal skin color usually returns within 6 months after laser therapy.
• Scarring is a risk with the use of any laser. If the post treatment skin care instructions are not followed, this can increase the chance of scarring.
• The treated areas may show a slight depression after the laser treatments. This depression usually resolves within a few months.

Testimonials

 

Thank you for taking such concern and care for me — I’m very pleased with my results. You listen to the patient and that means a lot. Your staff is wonderful and everyone made my surgery go smoothly. I appreciate you very much! KM

Your staff is very professional and well organized–a rarity these days. And, thank you again for seeing me on such short notice. DG — Oh by the way, you do great work!

Post-Operative Care

 

After the procedure, any treated areas are dressed for healing. Surgeons are divided on whether the wound should remain open or closed (covered) during the healing process. For example, surgeons that adopt a closed procedure can use a dressing that is primarily hydrogel held on a mesh support to cover the wound. This kind of dressing is changed daily while the epithelium (outer layer) is restored. Open wound care involves frequent soaks in salt water or dilute acetic acid, followed by application of ointment. Whatever wound treatment is used, it is important to keep the healing skin hydrated.

Full restoration of the epithelial layer occurs in seven to 10 days after treatment with a carbon dioxide laser and three to five days after treatment with a Er:YAG laser, although redness can persist for many weeks afterward.

Estimated Costs for Erbium: YAG Laser

MICROLASER PEEL PRICING
Recommend: 4 treatments, one every 3 months
EACH	$550.00
PACKAGE OF 4 (Purchase 3 and receive the 4th free)	$1,650.00
PROFRACTIONAL ERBIUM LASER PRICING
Recommend: 4 treatments, one every 6 weeks
EACH	$650.00
PACKAGE OF 4 (Purchase 3 receive the 4th free)	$1950.00

Aesthetic Units

MICROLASER PEEL PRICING
EACH (Peri-oral, Peri-orbital, forehead, cheeks)	$330.00
PACKAGE OF 4 (Purchase 3 and receive the 4th free)	$990.00
PROFRACTIONAL ERBIUM LASER PRICING
EACH (Peri-oral, Peri-orbital, forehead and cheeks)	$350.00
PACKAGE OF 4 (Purchase 3 receive the 4th free)	$1050.00

Care Credit
Ask us about Care Credit Financing.

Forms & Documents

Please ask your physician for the required documents for this procedure.