The Center for Aesthetic Medicine has earned a reputation as a leader in treatment of vascular lesions. The center offers a range of aesthetic laser treatments for the following conditions:
- Hemangiomas
- Vascular malformations
- Dilated facial blood vessels
- Prominent veins
- Spider hemangioma
- Pyogenic granulomas
- Other related conditions
Hemangiomas and vascular malformations
About half of all babies born have congenital birthmarks/vascular lesions. These birthmarks have aesthetic significance, and occasionally, functional implications.
Vascular lesions of the skin fall into two categories: Hemangiomas and vascular malformations. It is important to accurately characterize vascular lesions in order to understand their progression, expected complications, prognosis, and of course, treatment.
Because hemangiomas are typically benign and often regress spontaneously, they often do not need to be treated. However, hemangiomas that are located in problematic areas of the body or change shape, impair function, or cause complications, justify treatment. For aesthetic hemangioma treatment, the Center for Aesthetic Medicine clinicians offer laser therapy.
In contrast, vascular malformations, such as port wine stains, do not disappear spontaneously; therefore, clinical intervention is often necessary. Laser treatment is proven safe and effective for treating blood vessel malformations, such as port wine stains, and hemangiomas; both conditions can be treated with very low incidence of side effects. Small, relatively flat vascular malformations respond relatively easily. Those that have progressed into deep blood vessels or appear in older patients are harder to treat; therefore, early treatment is of highest priority.
Facial telangiectasias (spider veins) or rosacea
Dilated capillaries on the face and side of the nose are very common. Occasionally, these types of skin conditions can appear at a surgical incision or radiotherapy site or along with acne or rosacea; however, sometimes the problem is isolated, appearing without other medical conditions.
Laser technology is the most well-known and effective therapy for treating spider veins or rosacea.
Technologies and therapies for treating vascular legions
- Pulsed-dye laser (Vbeam) - Pulsed-dye laser (PDL) is considered the treatment of choice for most lesions that involve blood vessels. This is thanks to PDL’s high clinical effectiveness and low side-effect profile. The device has a large spot size (5-10 millimeters) that enables rapid treatment, even for large areas. Side effects include bruising, which disappears after a week or two after treatment, and temporary changes in pigmentation. The PDL device can dynamically freeze, which increases comfort during the procedure and allows safe and effective treatment under higher energy, while minimizing the number of treatments necessary.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL) - Intense pulsed light is an effective treatment for lesions sourced in the blood vessels (conditions such as rosacea and dilated blood vessels), age spots, and hyperpigmentation. It is also powerful for rejuvenating the skin.
During the IPL procedure, emitted pulsations of light are directed at high force into the outer skin layers. This reduces the melanin level and/or blood vessel volume. In addition, the light makes the body produce new skin that appears healthy and refreshed. The IPL treatments available at the Center for Aesthetic Medicine are sophisticated and have strong medical support. Therefore, they are a totally different level of care and can’t be compare to IPL treatments and technologies offered at spas.
