VASCULAR LESION THERAPY

What is the Candela Vascular Lesion Laser and why is it a safe treatment?

The Candela laser is specially designed to produce an intense but gentle burst of laser light that is optimized to treat vascular lesions. The treatment is safer than traditional methods because of its unique ability to selectively treat the blood vessels of a vascular lesion without adversely affecting the surrounding tissue. Thus, it will eliminate many lesions while leaving the surrounding skin and skin pigment intact. In fact, the laser is so safe and effective that it is recommended for the treatment of infants as young as a few weeks old.

What conditions are treated with the laser?

Telangiectasias or facial spider veins.
Port Wine Stain / red birthmarks, and strawberry hemangiomas -- red lesions that grow rapidly after birth and may impair the function of another organ.
Warts -- small benign growths in the skin that usually appear on the hands, feet or female genitalia, within the vagina, or on the cervix.
Scars -- Red raised scars that are often caused by surgery, trauma, or burns.
Stretch Marks -- frequently appearing after pregnancy over the stomach, thighs, buttocks, breasts, shoulders, and lower back.
Rosacea (red facial lesions) -- affecting the skin of the face around the nose and cheeks causing a blush or sunburned look.

Why should I have a vascular lesion treated?

Many people are uncomfortable with unsightly vascular lesions. With a means of treatment as safe and effective as the Candela laser, there is simply no reason to live with this problem. Furthermore, young children or infants can be treated before they are subjected to the psychological as well as physical trauma that may be associated with a vascular lesion.

What does the treatment include?

Treatment with the laser will vary from patient to patient, depending on the age, size and type of lesion, the color of the patient's skin and depth to which the lesion extends beneath the skin's surface, but here are some general facts about the treatment:

Safety eyewear to protect the patient's eyes from the intense laser light during the procedure.
A small handpiece or "wand" will be used by the physician to deliver the laser energy to the skin.

The patient will experience some discomfort at the treated site. It is often described as a rubber band snapping against the skin. The degree of discomfort varies with each person, depending upon his/her pain threshold. Most patients do not require anesthesia, though in some cases, depending on the location and nature of the lesion, the physician may elect to use some form of anesthesia.

What precautions should be taken before and after treatment?

Immediately following treatment, the area may be slightly swollen, sensitive or may feel warm. Recommended post-operative care includes:

avoiding sun exposure or tanning
applying ice for discomfort
applying topical antibiotic cream or ointment.

Are there any side effects?

Patients will experience some discoloration or reddening of the skin around the treatment site. Some patients may experience hypo- (reduced pigment) or hyperpigmentation (increased pigment) response or increase of pigment color. The skin will typically return to normal pigmentation over time.