Laser for facelift scars is a type of laser skin treatment that can help remove scars from facelifts and other types of surgeries. It’s one of the most popular surgical procedures, but it can leave behind visible scars. Laser treatments are often used to treat these scars, but they’re not always successful. The best way to tell if laser treatments will work for you depends on your skin type and the severity of your scarring. You should consult with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon before starting any treatment plan so they can assess your needs and give their recommendations based on those assessments.
If you’ve already tried other treatments and they haven’t worked well enough, then it’s worth considering laser therapy as an option for getting rid of your scars. But it’s important not to expect too much—this type of treatment isn’t guaranteed to work on everyone because every person has different needs when it comes down to how much time we want our procedures done quickly with minimal pain!
Read on to learn more about Laser For Facelift Scars
Laser For Facelift Scars
We do a lot to make sure we have perfect skin. We use the right cleansers, moisturizers, and serums, we protect our skin from the sun, and we even visit skin specialists to take care of troublesome acne or other skin issues with prescription ointments. But sometimes we still come across a skin concern that is tough to handle in the traditional ways, such as scarring. At Flores Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL we believe the path to perfect skin can come in many ways, including energy-based treatments such as laser scar removal.
IS LASER SCAR REMOVAL PERMANENT?
Scars are a permanent problem themselves, so it makes sense that many patients wonder if scar removal treatments are permanent as well. The answer is yes. In general, a permanent treatment for removing scars is one that completely resurfaces the topmost layers of skin and sometimes deeper, depending on the severity of the scar. Removing a scar with a laser treatment operates under this principle to gradually lighten, tighten, and fade a scar over time.
HOW LONG DO RESULTS LAST?
Results for a permanent treatment last a very long time. In fact, this treatment lasts for as long as you do not develop another scar in the same area. This is an important note, as scars tend to develop more easily on skin that has already scarred once. For laser removal of scars, the results will last a lifetime if the skin is protected and taken care of with the right skincare products.
WILL I NEED MULTIPLE TREATMENTS?
Most likely, the successful removal of your scar will require multiple treatments. The number of treatments you require for optimal results depends on a few factors, such as the severity of the scar, the type of scar it is, and the location of the scar. Your skin type and age might also be a factor, particularly if you are producing collagen at a slower rate than in your youth. Let’s explain why these factors matter for the number of treatments you will require.
SCAR SEVERITY
Not all scars are created equal. The simple truth of the matter is that some scars are on the surface of the skin, while others affect the deeper dermis. Some scars are small and flat, while others pucker and raise from the skin. Some scars are pale, some are dark, and some have no color at all. The severity of your scar will directly dictate how many treatments you need to remove the scar completely.
SCAR LOCATION
The location of your scar matters, especially for energy-based treatments. For example, the type of scar you might find on the face might need a different laser treatment than the scar on your stomach. Additionally, the location of your scar will also determine the type of skin that is being treated. Thinner skin, such as skin found around the eyes and the neck, is much different than thicker skin, such as the skin on the stomach, arms, and legs. The location of your scar can even determine the severity of the scar and how fast or how much the scar can heal itself.
SKIN TYPE
Some people have skin that is more prone to scarring, while others have skin that heals quickly and evenly. Moreover, the type of skin you have typically changes as you age, meaning the supple, quick-healing skin of your youth is much different than the thinner, more delicate skin of your current age. Your skin type and how quickly your skin type changes is something that is determined by genetics, which means it is ultimately out of your control.
WHAT IS RECOVERY LIKE?
Some patients assume that recovery from laser treatment is painful and will require a lot of downtime. We are pleased to say this is not the case. In fact, recovery from laser treatment for the removal of scars is much quicker than many other cosmetic treatments.
Your overall recovery period is about 3 to 10 days. The time of your recovery period is determined by the severity of your scar, the type of treatment you had, and the natural regenerative rate of your body. Your recovery time will likely include advice to moisturize, use sun protection, and avoid excessive heat, sweating, and direct sunlight. The majority of patients are free to return to normal daily activities as soon as 24 hours after treatment is complete.
HOW DOES LASER SCAR REMOVAL WORK?
Energy-based treatments are unique cosmetic interventions for a wide variety of appearance concerns, particularly concerns related to the skin. For the removal of scars, the most common type of laser treatment is laser skin resurfacing with a non-ablative laser.
Laser skin resurfacing is an umbrella term for many cosmetic treatments that treat the surface of the skin to help diminish the appearance of superficial skin concerns, including scarring. Skin resurfacing can use an ablative laser, which removes the topmost layer of skin, or a non-ablative laser, which does not injure the surface of the skin. At our office, we use a non-ablative laser to reduce the appearance of scars by removing the dead cells that make up scar tissue.
WHAT DOES LASER SCAR REMOVAL TREAT?
Laser treatments to remove scars can treat several types of scars as well as other skin-related concerns. Laser skin resurfacing can treat issues such as:
- Injury scars
- Acne scarring
- Stretch marks
- Dark spots
- Sun damage
- Uneven skin pigment
- Uneven skin texture
- Skin laxity
SCAR 101
It’s just as important to understand the ins and outs of scars as it is to understand how scar removal works. Patients have many questions about scars, including how scars form, why some scars are different, and how to prevent scars from developing in the future.
WHAT ARE SCARS?
Scars are newly formed skin tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. A scar can be a dip in the skin, a pucker on the skin surface, a white line, a darker slash, or even pinkish lines. Scars typically have a different pigment or texture than the surrounding skin, and particularly bad scars have both. Scars are a normal occurrence after healing from an injury and are overall unavoidable.
HOW DO SCARS FORM?
To explain how scars form, we first need to explore the natural regenerative abilities of the body. Our body has many components to heal from injury, including the build-up of platelets in the blood to coagulate a wound and promote the fast knitting of new skin tissue to create a barrier on the skin surface. The natural regenerative abilities of our body are used for all injuries, regardless of how minor or severe. But bigger, deeper, or repeated injuries to the skin surface means scars that are tougher and more difficult to get rid of.
Scars form when the fibers of our skin tissue rapidly generate over a wounded area. This rapid regeneration means that healing the area takes priority over healing the area uniformly, which is why scars have different pigments and textures than the rest of your skin. Scars are best described as abnormal skin because it is skin that does not behave the same as other skin. For example, while the rest of your skin might get a sunburn, a scar does not.
WHAT CAUSES SCARRING?
There are many factors that contribute to scarring. Here are a few of the most common factors.
INJURY
Injury is the number one cause of scarring. But what exactly constitutes an injury? While an obvious injury might include the presence of blood on the skin’s surface, the more troublesome injury for the skin to heal from is inflammation or overstretching. Injury for the skin is anything that stresses the natural fibers and causes the skin to change its shape. Injury can be anything from a paper cut, a surgery wound, acne, or even weight gain.
SKIN SENSITIVITY
There is a direct correlation between scarring and the general sensitivity of your skin. As a rule of thumb, those who have sensitive skin are more prone to scarring. Sensitive skin is a skin type that is vulnerable to outside elements, meaning it is easily made red and is highly reactive to products or the environment.
WHY IS ACNE SCARRING DIFFERENT?
Acne scarring is different than other kinds of scarring. Why? Mostly this has to do with how acne scars form. Acne occurs when bacteria cause an inflammation of the skin, which stretches the walls of a pore and leads to scarring when the skin tries to prematurely heal from the acne. This premature healing creates a new wall of collagen, which creates the dips and dimples associated with acne scars.
WHY ARE STRETCH MARKS COMMON?
Stretch marks are one of the most common types of scars. Stretch marks can be found on virtually any area of the body but are most commonly seen on the stomach, arms, breasts, hips, and thighs. Stretch marks are caused by skin stretching too quickly, which stresses the elasticity of the skin and creates the vertical lines associated with stretch marks. This type of scarring is common during puberty for both genders, during pregnancy, or as a result of weight gain.
CAN SCARS FADE NATURALLY?
Have you ever seen new scars next to old scars? You will notice that new scars have a much different appearance than scars that are several years old, and that’s because older scars have had more time to heal by themselves. However, the degree to which scars can fade by themselves depends on your age, your skin, your overall health, and the type of scar it is. Overall, while some scars can fade significantly over several years, the majority of old scars are still visible and need extra help to fade completely.
DO SOME SCARS FADE FASTER THAN OTHERS?
Yes, some scars do fade more quickly than others. Again, this is something that depends on the type of scar that is healing. Stretch marks, for example, can fade over the course of 2 to 5 years, while acne scars can take a full decade to match the surrounding skin texture. The fastest way to fade a scar is to seek a removal treatment that helps speed up the rate of cell turn over in the scar tissue.
ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR SCAR REMOVAL TREATMENT?
If you have a scar of any type, then you likely are a candidate for laser treatments. Good candidates are screened through a consultation process that will examine the condition of your skin and the severity of your scar. You might be a good candidate for this treatment if you want to:
- Reduce the appearance of scars
- Diminish acne scars
- Improve stretch marks
- Erase surgical scars
- Correct dark spots and other skin damage
How Much Does Laser Treatment for Spider Veins Cost?
Laser for Facelift Scars
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that uses concentrated light energy to remove thin layers of skin. The laser pulses the skin, causing heat to be generated. The heat causes the top layer of skin (epidermis) to separate from the deeper layers of skin (dermis). This separation allows the surgeon to peel back the top layer in order to smooth out wrinkles and scars on the face and neck. The procedure also helps eliminate excess hair on the face and neck by breaking up follicles in their active growth phase.
Laser resurfacing can be used on people with all skin types, including darker complexions, according to Dr. Mark S. Friedman, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in New York City who specializes in facial cosmetic surgery. However, this type of treatment is more likely to produce results on patients with fair or medium complexions than those with darker ones because it works by eliminating pigmentation in the uppermost layer of skin called melanin, which is responsible for darkening your complexion.
The most common side effects associated with laser resurfacing include redness, swelling, bruising and crusting around areas treated with it; however, these side effects should disappear within a few days after
Now that you know why it’s important to seek spider vein treatment, let’s discuss laser treatment and the cost of vein removal.
What is Laser Treatment?
Laser Treatment is a method in which a laser is used to generate heat that can, over time, destroy the damaged veins, thus getting rid of spider veins.
Laser treatment is usually suggested by medical spas because it doesn’t have to be administered by an actual vein doctor.
Average Cost of Laser Spider Vein Treatment
The average cost of laser spider vein treatment usually varies between $300 to $600 per session. But that is just for one session.
Laser spider vein treatment is not at all efficient. You have to basically come for multiple sessions for several weeks or months before you see any notable changes.
So you can potentially spend thousands of dollars (maybe even tens of thousands) on laser treatment for spider veins.
Laser Treatment for Spider Veins on Face Cost
The face is usually dense with arteries so it needs to be treated more delicately. As such, laser treatment for spider veins on face cost is usually pretty high.
The exact cost differs based on clinics, but it’s on the higher end of the $300 to $600 range, per session.
Is Laser Treatment the Best Spider Vein Treatment?
Laser Treatment is an extremely INEFFECTIVE spider vein treatment.
It takes extremely long to carry out, requires multiple sessions over weeks and months, and you might still not see considerable results. More importantly, laser treatment is not a permanent solution and your spider veins may resurface later.
The ONLY situations in which laser treatment may be an appropriate solution is when you have spider veins in your face or feet. In those cases — and ONLY in those cases — a spider vein specialist may recommend laser treatment instead of the superior sclerotherapy treatment.
Best Spider Vein Treatment: Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical and minimally-invasive spider vein removal treatment. A solution called Sclerosant is injected into the affected vein so that the vein walls can be sealed and closed down. The accumulated blood is then rerouted to healthier veins.
Sclerotherapy is the best and most effective spider vein treatment available.
Average Cost of Sclerotherapy Treatment
The national average for a Sclerotherapy session is approximately $350. It’s also a lot more effective than laser treatment so you won’t be coming back for repeat sessions for several months.
Basically, sclerotherapy treatment is a fraction of the cost of laser treatment.
Why is Sclerotherapy the Best Spider Vein Treatment?
Sclerotherapy is the best spider vein treatment for the following reasons:
- It is a minimally-invasive treatment.
- Causes no pain, either during or after treatment.
- The whole process only takes 30 minutes.
- You can see the results very soon.
- You can go ahead with your daily activities immediately after the treatment.
- This is a permanent solution. The spider veins don’t come back.
Medical Advice for Spider Vein Removal
A lot of people don’t seek treatment for spider veins because they think it’s no big issue. Some people are told to check out laser treatment and they are scared away by the prospect of spending thousands of dollars.
But, as we have shown, spider veins should be taken seriously. Under some situations, it can be life-threatening if left untreated.
And if you pursue sclerotherapy — as you should because it’s the best spider vein treatment option available — the cost of vein removal is pretty manageable.
So we highly recommend going to a spider vein specialist in NY or spider vein specialist in NJ for medical advice.
At Vein Treatment Clinic, we work with VIP Medical Group to give our patients access to the world’s best board-certified Ivy-league educated vein specialists. They can study your condition to come up with a treatment plan and they can give you an accurate quote for spider vein removal.
So go ahead and book an appointment with your nearest vein treatment clinic today.
laser vein removal face side effects
Vein Therapies, whether for leg veins, foot & ankle veins, or facial vein, have become much safer over the years. This is due to advances in modern technologies that did not exist before or from improvement in more traditional therapies. Examples include the development of new laser devices, invention of safer catheter technologies such as radiofrequency catheters, smaller instrumentations due to fiber optics and laparoscopy, and the development of new medications and chemical substances that can replace the need for prior more-invasive procedures or surgeries. Improvements in imaging, such as higher definition ultrasound machines, CT scans, and MRIs has also aided vein specialists to treat vein diseases with less invasive options.
Still, even with these less invasive procedures there is still going to be risks involved. All interventional therapies are associated with risks of complication. The risks have just decreased. I will discuss some of the possible risks associated with commonly performed vein procedures that are discussed on the pages of our website.
Risk of All Invasive Procedures
Any invasive procedure, whether to a vein or other structure, have potential risks, complications, or side effects. This can include bleeding, scarring, infection, blood vessel injury, blood clots, nerve injury, or accidental injury to other adjacent structures. New abnormal veins can also develop after vein procedures. Lymphatic damage or chronic swelling can sometimes result. Most vein procedures go well, but there is also the possibility of an adverse side effect or complications. A very rare potential complication is a retained foreign body as a result of catheter, wire, sheath, or IV breakage or dislodgment during the procedure.
Possible Side Effects of Lasers
Lasers include diode lasers used for Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), but also other other laser devices such as YAG lasers. The risks of vein lasers include thermal injury to the skin, manifesting as skin burns. This is a rare occurrence due to lower levels of laser heat being delivered with these procedures. If you develop this complication you may develop scarring or change in the pigmentation of the skin at the treatment area involved. The pigmentation changes in the skin could be darker or lighter than the adjacent uninvolved skin. Contact your physician if you believe this complication has occurred. By seeing a board-certified vein specialist with experience in laser vein treatments you will minimize your chance of complications occurring. It is also advised that a physician perform the actual laser vein procedure.
Other risks of lasers result from the laser heat energy involved with the laser device. This can include heat damage to nerves or soft tissues adjacent to the veins. Soft tissues include the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and adipose tissue (fat) adjacent to the veins. The skin is the most commonly affected area. Nerve injuries an lead to chronic pain or numbness.
If deeper veins are treated, other risks or side effects are possible. This can include blood clots (deep venous thrombosis or superficial venous thrombosis) or damage to deeper veins as the result of scar. In more severe cases of blood clots there can be movement or embolization of the clot. The most common area for a clot embolism to travel is the lungs.
If you develop any unusual symptoms after a vein procedure, immediately contact your physician or go to the nearest emergency room to be evaluated. Ultrasounds and CT scans can be done to evaluate for possible blood clots. It is very routine to have a vein ultrasound performed following a procedure to evaluate for any complications, side effects, or blood clots. You should also receive a follow up physical examination by your vein specialist after any vein treatment to ensure that no unusual side effects or complications have occurred.
Safety goggles should be worn during laser procedures to protect the eyes / retina. So your vein specialist will ask you to wear safety goggles while laser procedures are being performed.
Possible Side Effects of Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) includes procedures like ClosureFast, Venefit, and VNUS procedures. RFA is a type of thermal treatment, so side effects are typically related to heat delivery to adjacent structures. These side effects include thermal injury to the skin, nerves, muscles, or other soft tissues next to the vein. This can lead to discoloration of the skin, scars, numbness, tingling, or chronic pain of the treated area. Blood clots or injury to adjacent veins or blood vessels can occur. Bleeding is another possible complication. Since veins are under low pressure, most cases of bleeding from leg veins that results from superficial venous procedures is minor and can be controlled by direct pressure or a suture.
Possible Side Effects of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy risks include allergic reactions or drug related side effects (exact nature depends on which sclerosant drug is used). Skin related side effects include abnormal skin pigmentation, matting (abnormal vein development), blood clots, bleeding, skin wounds / ulcers, scarring, injury to adjacent vessels, and pulmonary embolism. Extravasation of the drug into other tissues around the treatment area or accidental injection into other blood vessels (such as arteries) can lead to other tissue damage, pain, scars, or treatment failure. The most common side effect of sclerotherapy is hyperpigmentation of areas of skin at or near the treatment sites. Hyperpigmentation usually resolves with time, but can sometime takes many months or even up to a year to resolve.
Possible Side Effects of Varithena
Since varithena is a type of sclerotherapy treatment, the risks are the same as those described for sclerotherapy above.
Possible Side Effects of Venaseal
Venaseal is a medical glue that is injected into veins. Side effects can include medication allergy, abnormal inflammatory response of the tissues surrounding the treatment site, infections, chronic pain, injury to adjacent blood vessls, injury to adjacent soft tissues or organs. Other possibilities include bleeding and abnormal vein development adjacent to the treatment sites.
Possible Side Effects of Clarivein
Clarivein is a combination of mechanical disruption of a vein and use of a sclerosant drug. So the risk include those described for sclerotherapy. Other possibilities include bleeding, scarring, infection, blood vessel injury, blood clots, nerve injury, or accidental injury to adjacent structures. New abnormal veins can also develop after vein procedures. Most vein procedures go well, but there is also the possibility of an adverse side effect or complications. A very rare potential complication is a retained foreign body as a result of catheter, wire, sheath, or IV breakage or dislodgment during the procedure.
Possible Side Effects of Phlebectomy and Stripping and Vein Ligation Surgeries
These are open surgical vein procedures to remove or ligate abnormal veins. They are still performed today for more severe forms of varicose veins. Risks include bleeding, scarring, infection, blood vessel injury, blood clots, nerve injury, chronic swelling, lymphatic damage, or accidental injury to other adjacent structures. New abnormal veins can also develop after vein procedures. Most vein procedures go well, but there is also the possibility of an adverse side effect or complications.
Other Vein Procedures & Risks Not Categorized Above
The above categories of vein treatments cover the majority of the vein procedures performed at Austin Vein Specialists. But this list is not all inclusive of all vein procedures available or of other possible rare side effects. A one-on-one discussion of the risks involved with your specific procedure and your specific anatomy should occur between you and your physician before a vein procedure is performed. Both verbal and written consent between you and your doctor is advised before you undergo a vein procedure. It is also advised that you have have your vein condition treated by a physician that is board-certified in vein disease management (i.e Vascular Surgeon) and that this doctor has successfully completed a residency and fellowship in vascular surgery. This ensures the highest level of competency of the physician and helps to minimize your risks of adverse side effects and complications.