Comparing laser therapy to other types of vascular treatment
Lasers are quickly becoming the go-to vascular solution for women and men in the Portland area. Let’s compare lasers to other types of vascular treatment to understand why.
What causes visible veins?
The vascular system includes one-way valves that keep blood flowing in the right direction. When these valves begin to fail or vein walls weaken, backflow, pressure, and pooling of blood occur near the surface of skin. Varicose veins are the result off this happening to larger blood vessels, and spider veins appear when capillaries are affected.
The condition is influenced by:
- Gender (women, more so then men, are prone to vein problems).
- Aging.
- Heredity.
- Pregnancy.
- Prolonged sitting or standing.
- Smoking.
- Excess weight.
- Hormonal imbalance.
- Birth control pills.
- Injury.
Treatment options
- Minimally invasive techniques – Endovenous treatments require only small access points. They involve inserting a catheter to deliver laser or other energy, or medical adhesive, which closes a problem vein. These methods may be appropriate for moderate to larger veins.
- Surgical intervention – Vein stripping is a surgical technique to remove large, ropey varicose veins.
- Laser therapy – Only local anesthesia is needed, and a treatment session takes less than an hour. A focused beam of laser energy targets the darker pigmentation of the vein, heating and destroying it without harm to nearby skin and other tissues. There is no downtime. Over a period of several weeks, treated veins are reabsorbed by the body. Usually two to six treatments, spaced about a month apart, are needed for full resolution.
Schedule a visit to Thrive to learn more about types of vascular treatment available. Call (503) 928-6505.
