Laser used – The Vbeam Perfecta®

How it works – This laser eliminates broken capillaries (telangiectasia) and redness by selectively targeting red blood vessels while sparing the surrounding skin. The laser light heats superficial blood vessels causing them to collapse which in turn reduces redness. It targets both blood vessels which are visible to the eye and blood vessels that haven't grown close enough to reach the surface yet (but will if left untreated).

Why it's better – This laser is gentler than earlier models because each laser pulse is divided into 8 evenly spaced micro-pulses providing gentle blood vessel warming and consistently excellent results. The Vbeam Perfecta® laser's most innovative feature is a cooling mist released just prior to each laser pulse. This cooling system protects the skin and minimizes side effects such as redness and bruising often seen with other lasers. For those who have suffered through an IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment, the Vbeam is less painful and more effective. This superior performance is because the Vbeam is a laser which emits a single frequency of light to target the problem areas; whereas, IPL is not a laser, so it emits a range of light frequencies, only one of which targets the problem while the many other wavelengths target normal tissue and cause pain without benefit. It is like the difference between a sniper and a bomb.

How it will feel – The sensation has been compared to having an elastic band snapped against the skin.

Recovery time – Patients may experience slight redness and mild swelling for up to 2 hours. More pronounced swelling can be managed preventatively with antihistamines or treated with a steroid taper. Immediately after treatment, patients may apply cosmetics and return to normal activities. Rarely, patients who have a large network of capillaries will experience bruising.

Procedure time – 15-30 minutes.

Procedure results – Patients note an improvement in the appearance of their skin within one week of treatment.

Maintaining treatment benefit – Dr. Overman strongly encourages patients to use sunscreen to minimize further sun damage that would lead to more broken capillaries.

How to Prepare – Please observe the guidelines found in Before Your Laser Appointment.

Treatments needed – Usually one treatment is sufficient to eliminate broken capillaries, but some patients may need a second or even a third treatment for larger vessels.