Many people are embarrassed by the appearance of spider veins on the face or legs. Spider veins are actually dilated or stretched blood vessels that appear on the legs, not "broken" blood vessels, as is commonly thought. Their precise cause is unknown, but it is thought that heredity, excessive standing, weight gain, hormonal changes and pregnancy. Laser technology has become an important factor in the treatment of vascular deformities such as hemangiomas, port wine stains, and spider veins.

Process: Patients are treated in the office setting without the need for anesthesia. The laser is traced over the abnormal vessels and the red-colored hemoglobin absorbs the energy. This results in internal damage and obliteration of the small blood vessels. The process is rapid and is associated with minimal discomfort.

Recovery: Some patients experience temporary skin discoloration and reddening of the skin which can last for several weeks after treatment. The skin usually returns to normal condition with time.