How Long Do the Results of Laser Treatment Take?

The results of laser treatment vary, based on the patient’s veins and the type of laser used. For facial spider veins, vein doctors can use pulsed dye lasers, intensive pulsed lasers, and other types of thermal energy at the skin’s surface. For spider veins in the legs, an endovenous laser treatment might be required. Book an appointment with a board certified vein doctor in California to determine which laser treatment you need. Different methods work for different veins.

With surface laser treatments, the vein doctor aims a laser beam at the spider vein through the skin. This heats the blood, causing it to coagulate. The vein vanishes over a period of two to six weeks. Some patients require additional treatments. With endovenous laser treatments, vein doctors insert a tiny catheter into the skin and protect the area around it with an injectable anesthetic.

Then they thread a laser fiber through the catheter and position it on the vein wall. They activate the laser to heat the venous walls, causing it to collapse and seal shut. Endovenous laser treatments begin working immediately, and patients will see a difference within a few weeks. Endovenous lasers are used for varicose veins and larger spider veins, while surface lasers are used for facial spider veins and small spider veins on the body.

Tired of looking at your spider veins? Wondering, “How long does it take for spider veins to disappear after laser treatment?” Here’s what to expect with lasers.

Do Endovenous Lasers and Surface Lasers Take the Same Time?

Endovenous lasers and surface lasers treat different blood vessels. Most endovenous procedures are used on varicose veins and spider veins that stem from Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Facial spider veins that result from sun damage, squeezing a pimple, or disease are often treated with surface lasers. A surface laser procedure takes an average of 15 minutes, and an endovenous laser procedure averages 20-30 minutes. So, both are quick, outpatient treatments.

Surface lasers can cause temporary redness and irritation, so you won’t see the results right away. Endovenous lasers don’t irritate the skin above the vein. So, patients are able to see a difference quickly with endovenous lasers. Both types of treatments work within two to twelve weeks, depending on the extent of vein damage. Since some patients require additional treatments or a combination of methods, there’s no timeline that applies to everyone. But all types of laser treatments erase veins faster than vein stripping surgeries like phlebectomy.

How Long Does It Take Until the Vein Is Closed?

With surface lasers, blood is heated to a point that it destroys the vein. So, it closes rapidly. Likewise, endovenous lasers seal the vein shut promptly by heating the walls of the vein. The veins close quickly in both procedures. But it takes a few weeks for the vein to be absorbed into surrounding tissue and fade from sight.

Do Varicose Veins and Spider Veins Vanish at the Same Pace?

Most varicose veins are larger than spider veins and often require a different treatment. However, that doesn’t mean they take longer to disappear. When you choose a qualified vein doctor in California, they’ll find the cause of your spider vein or varicose vein and address that as well. Often, it’s a broken valve in a deeper vein that allows blood to flow backward and engorge the vein.

Once the doctor treats the faulty valve and the resultant vein, blood is rerouted into viable veins. Since blood can no longer enter the varicose vein or spider vein, it fades quickly. Cosmetic vein centers can’t treat the underlying cause of spider veins or varicose veins, which is why some patients with cosmetic procedures experience a recurrence of damaged veins. Visit our award-winning vein center in California to acheive permanent resolution of your veins.

Do Laser Fibers Collapse and Seal Veins Faster Than IPLs?

Intensive pulsed lasers (IPLs) use multiple wavelengths to heat the blood and create coagulation. Endovenous lasers work by positioning a laser fiber directly on the vein walls, to collapse the structure of the vein. Both procedures are quick to perform. But endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is more powerful and works better for larger and deeper veins. Surface lasers can’t treat big, deep veins because the amount of heat required would damage the skin. Many patients achieve complete resolution with a single EVLA treatment. IPL procedures often require additional treatments.  

Which Additional Treatments Work Quickly for Spider Veins?

Endovenous laser treatment and pulsed lasers aren’t the only options to treat spider veins or varicose veins. Vein specialists also use sclerotherapy, vein adhesives, mechanochemical ablation, and radiofrequency ablation to treat veins quickly. Each of these is minimally invasive and takes less than 30 minutes.

They don’t require general anesthesia or recovery time, so you can resume your usual routine. While surgery has been largely replaced by less invasive measures, some patients still require it. Surgery is the most time consuming of the treatment options, but newer surgeries like ambulatory phlebectomy are faster.

What’s the Fastest Way to Treat Spider Veins?

How long does it take for veins to disappear after laser treatment versus other treatments? The fastest way to treat spider veins is to consult a board certified vein doctor. Cosmetic vein centers offer surface lasers for spider veins. But many patients aren’t well suited to these, especially if they have sensitive skin. In addition, if your spider vein stems from valve failure or Chronic Venous Insufficiency, a surface procedure won’t prevent a recurrence.

Until the impetus is addressed, new spider and varicose veins can form. No treatment is right for everyone. The key to quick results is choosing a doctor with several options and the ability to choose the right one. While you might be well suited to surface or endovenous lasers, you might be better suited to sclerotherapy or radiofrequency ablation.

Do You Need to Wear Compression Stockings After Lasers?

Depending on the vein damage and the type of laser used, some patients need to wear compression stockings after laser treatment. This might be for a few days or a few weeks. Compression helps pump blood out of the veins and into the new pathways. Other than compression stockings, life will continue as normal. You can go back to work, shower, and engage in moderate exercise immediately afterward.

Which California Vein Centers Treat Blood Vessels Quickly?

For quick treatment of blood vessels like varicose veins and spider veins, choose an accredited vein center with board certified vein specialists. These facilities are equipped with Duplex Ultrasound to find the source of the vein and guide laser treatments precisely. With imaging, vein doctors can ensure the device is positioned correctly and the vein is closed successfully. Visit our vein centers in San Diego or San Jose, California, for swift and successful laser treatment.